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"Smishing" scams falsely claiming unpaid tolls on Massachusetts toll roads (E-ZPass/EZDriveMA) have increased since January, with scammers sending text messages to randomly selected phone numbers requesting payment via fraudulent links. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation warns that legitimate EZDriveMA communications never request payment by text and all authentic links include www.EZDriveMA.com; victims should not click links, verify accounts directly through official websites, and report fraudulent messages to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Massachusetts drivers are receiving fraudulent text messages impersonating the state's E-ZPass toll system, claiming unpaid tolls of $6.99 and directing recipients to malicious links that steal personal and financial information. The real E-ZPass never sends text messages, so recipients should delete such messages immediately and verify toll balances through official E-ZPass accounts. Anyone who clicked the fraudulent links should contact their bank and credit card company to freeze accounts and change all passwords.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned of a rise in fraud, scams, and price gouging targeting victims of California wildfires, appearing on ABC News Live in January 2025 to alert the public to these emerging threats. The article does not specify particular scam details, dollar amounts, or individual victim cases, but highlights the state's concern about exploitation of wildfire victims during recovery efforts.

The Boston Globe is seeking stories from Massachusetts residents aged 65 and older who have been victims of financial fraud, particularly schemes involving fake online romances or cryptocurrency ATM deposits. The publication is collecting accounts directly from victims and their families to understand the impact of these scams and has established confidential reporting channels through data reporter Scooty Nickerson and journalist Adria Watson.

This article discusses elder abuse protections across the United States, highlighting that the elderly population is projected to nearly double from 49 million to 95 million by 2060, making protective measures increasingly urgent. States like Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts rank highest in elder abuse prevention due to strong funding and robust regulations, while rural states such as South Carolina, Utah, and South Dakota lag significantly due to policy gaps and insufficient resources. Financial fraud is identified as a prevalent form of elder abuse affecting elderly individuals, with states offering stronger safeguards—such as ombudsman services and elder care organizations—demonstrating lower average financial losses per fraud case.

A Massachusetts resident received unsolicited calls from someone claiming to be "Sid" from American Express warning about fraudulent credit card activity and requesting verification at the number 1-800-450-8738. After initial skepticism, the caller's persistence led the recipient to investigate; while some online sources claimed the number was legitimate, contacting the real American Express fraud department confirmed it was a scam number. The scam demonstrates the increasing sophistication of voice impersonation fraud, where scammers use personal information and persistent contact attempts to gain trust before attempting financial exploitation.

A "smishing" scam is circulating nationwide, with criminals sending text messages impersonating state tolling agencies and claiming recipients owe overdue tolls, with the goal of obtaining one-time bank verification codes to fraudulently enroll stolen credit cards in Apple Pay or Google Pay. The scam software was built in China and sold to criminal gangs worldwide, and multiple Local 4 News staff members received these fraudulent messages. Experts recommend immediately blocking such messages, reporting them as spam, and never clicking links or providing one-time verification codes.

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

Scammers nationwide are sending phishing text messages impersonating toll agencies like FastTrak and EZdriveMA, claiming recipients owe unpaid toll fees and directing them to click links to steal personal and financial information. Authorities including the California Attorney General warn that these messages appear authentic and exploit drivers' fear of penalties to trick them into entering banking details. Consumers should avoid clicking links, verify messages through official agency contacts, report suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM), and file complaints with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Thomas Clasby, former director of the Department of Elder Services in Quincy, Massachusetts, was indicted for embezzlement, mail fraud, and wire fraud for allegedly using city funds as a personal slush fund since 2019, spending over $17,000 on personal items including steak, a self-portrait, and a music recording, while also allegedly funneling a $38,000 consultant contract back to himself. Clasby, who earned $111,971 annually, faces up to 40 years in prison and was fired in May 2024. The case is notable for the brazen nature of the fraud and because it diverted resources from programs intended to help seniors.

The Cordova Ministerial Association and Birmingham FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association will host a free elder fraud awareness workshop on Saturday, February 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cordova First Baptist Church in Birmingham. The educational event will include refreshments for attendees seeking to learn about protecting seniors from fraud.

This educational piece identifies the ten states with the strongest elder-care protections based on metrics including elder fraud rates, prevention expenditures, and care organizations. Massachusetts ranked first in the WalletHub analysis, and the article highlights that federal protections have expanded, such as the Senior Safe Act (signed May 24, 2018) which provides liability immunity for reporting senior exploitation. The article advises financial advisors to understand their states' elder-abuse laws, fraud prevention services, and long-term care resources as their clients age.

Scammers nationwide are sending text messages impersonating toll collection agencies, demanding payment for unpaid tolls and directing victims to fake websites to steal banking information, credit card details, and personal identifying information like driver's license numbers. The Federal Trade Commission and multiple state authorities including New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania have issued warnings about this "smishing" scam, which the FBI reported had generated over 2,000 complaints across at least three states as of April 2023. Victims should avoid clicking links or replying to unsolicited toll texts, and should instead delete and report suspicious messages to their phone carrier.

Drivers nationwide have received fraudulent texts impersonating toll collection services (TxTag in Texas, EZDriveMA in Massachusetts, and FasTrak in California) claiming unpaid fees and urging immediate payment via suspicious links. Clicking these links directs victims to phishing sites designed to steal personal, financial, and identity information for identity theft and fraudulent purchases. State transportation agencies recommend drivers delete such messages immediately, report them as spam, and note that legitimate toll agencies do not send unsolicited payment demand texts.

**Summary:** Etienne Jackson, 39, of Menands, New York, was arrested on March 1, 2025, after attempting a "grandparent scam" targeting an elderly woman by calling and claiming her grandson needed $9,800 for bail. The victim contacted police instead of paying, and officers arrested Jackson without incident when he arrived at her home to collect the money. Jackson was charged with Attempted Grand Larceny 3rd Degree.

During Consumer Protection Week in Springfield, Massachusetts, the mayor's Office of Consumer Information held an educational event at City Hall to help residents recognize and prevent common scams, particularly those targeting vulnerable populations like seniors and children. The event featured resources and information booths, including guidance from Western New England University's Law Center on consumer rights in debt collection cases, with organizers emphasizing that education and awareness are key to staying ahead of scammers and protecting credit and financial security.

The FBI warned businesses of a mail-based extortion scam where unknown criminals impersonate the BianLian ransomware group, falsely claiming to have stolen sensitive data and demanding $250,000-$500,000 in Bitcoin within ten days or threatening to publish the data. The FBI assessed these letters as fraudulent attempts and found no connection between the senders and the legitimate BianLian group, with return addresses traced to Boston, Massachusetts. Organizations are advised to notify executives and employees, verify network security status, and report any incidents to their local FBI field office or the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General warned the public about fraudulent emails with the subject line "Claim Benefits!" that impersonate SSA and direct recipients to fake websites designed to steal personal information. Red flags include sender email addresses from "Social Administration" rather than legitimate ".gov" addresses, and SSA will never request personal information or direct users to click links via unsolicited email. Victims should stop engaging with scammers, secure their accounts, and report the fraud to SSA OIG, local law enforcement, the FBI, and the FTC.

This article reports on federal law enforcement arrests of undocumented immigrants with criminal records in Massachusetts during early 2025, including individuals charged with sexual assault, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses. The cases involved coordination between DEA, ICE, and local police, with one suspect remaining in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and another wanted for felony drug trafficking in Brazil. The article does not contain information related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse and is therefore outside the scope of the Elderus database.

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Authorities in Massachusetts are warning about a text message scam where criminals claim recipients are under investigation and demand they call back to avoid legal action, often including fake case numbers and malware-laden links. The scam exploits fear and urgency to pressure victims—particularly older and less tech-savvy individuals—into acting without thinking. Law enforcement advises that legitimate agencies never contact people via text or email demanding money or threatening legal action; recipients should delete such messages and report them.

Beverly police recovered and returned more than $21,000 to elderly Essex County residents who had fallen victim to bitcoin scams, marking one of the first successful recoveries of its kind in the nation according to the Essex County District Attorney's office. The recovery effort demonstrates authorities' ability to trace and reclaim cryptocurrency fraud losses for senior victims.

A 76-year-old Massachusetts resident lost $30,000 after scammers convinced him his bank account was at risk due to a virus and instructed him to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin machine at a gas station, claiming it was an "FDIC machine." When the scammers later asked him to convert additional stock funds and arrange for someone to pick up cash from his home, he became suspicious and contacted his bank before losing additional money. Hingham Police warn that scammers use extended phone calls, fear tactics about compromised accounts, and instructions to avoid telling bank staff to manipulate victims into transferring funds.

Regina Henaku, 33, of Leominster, Massachusetts, was indicted on multiple counts after posing as a professional caregiver at health care facilities and assisted living centers in Worcester and Middlesex Counties, where she stole bank cards from at least 16 elderly victims over age 60 between August and November 2024. She used the stolen cards to steal approximately $28,000 from 11 victims and attempted to steal from others, while also using forged identities of a relative and former coworker to gain employment at multiple facilities. Henaku was charged with nine counts of larceny over $250 from an elderly or disabled person, credit card fraud, identity frau

Multiple residents in the Braintree and Hingham, Massachusetts area fell victim to Bitcoin ATM scams, with losses totaling at least $48,000 ($18,000 in Braintree and $30,000 in Hingham). Police warn that scammers convincingly instruct victims to withdraw cash and deposit it at Bitcoin ATMs, after which funds are transferred to untraceable Bitcoin wallets. Elderly residents are particularly targeted, and police advise that any instruction to use a Bitcoin ATM is a definitive sign of scam activity.

Regina Henaku, a 33-year-old from Leominster, Massachusetts, was indicted on nine counts including larceny from elders and identity fraud for stealing approximately $28,000 from elderly patients between August and November 2024. She posed as a health care professional using stolen identities at five different facilities across Worcester and Middlesex counties, fraudulently using credit and debit cards from at least 11 patients over age 60 without their knowledge.

The FBI warned New England homeowners and real estate agents about Quit Claim Deed fraud, in which scammers forge documents to illegally transfer property ownership and then sell, mortgage, or rent the properties for profit. Since 2019, the scam has cost victims over $61.5 million across New England, with Massachusetts accounting for $46 million in losses, and victims in Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island suffering an additional $15 million combined. The FBI provided recommendations for both homeowners (monitoring property records, setting up title alerts, and watching for suspicious activity) and real estate agents (requiring in-person identity verification, requesting original documentation, and confirming notary credentials) to

A 76-year-old Massachusetts resident lost $30,000 in a tech support scam after fraudsters convinced him his computer had a virus and his bank account was at risk. The scammers instructed him to withdraw cash without telling bank staff (claiming an employee was "corrupt"), then directed him to deposit the money into a Bitcoin machine at a gas station, which he believed was an "FDIC machine." The victim became suspicious only when scammers asked him to convert additional stock funds and arrange for someone to pick up cash from his home, preventing total loss of a second $35,000.

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.

Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 34-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested in April 2025 and charged with mail fraud and money laundering for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded six victims of over $2.5 million between 2016 and 2019. Nwadavid created fake dating profiles to build trust with victims, then manipulated them into sending money under false pretenses, using a Massachusetts victim as an intermediary to funnel funds to cryptocurrency accounts he controlled. He faces up to 20 years in prison and will be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence.

A 34-year-old Nigerian man, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, was arrested in Dallas-Fort Worth in April 2025 after being indicted for masterminding a $2.5 million romance scam that operated from 2016 to 2019. The scheme involved creating fake dating profiles to manipulate vulnerable victims into sending money under false pretenses, with one Massachusetts victim unknowingly serving as a money mule who converted stolen funds into cryptocurrency through platforms like LocalBitcoins. Nwadavid faces charges of mail fraud and money laundering, each carrying up to 20 years in prison, plus fines, restitution

A 34-year-old Nigerian national, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, was arrested at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in April 2024 after operating a sophisticated romance scam between 2016 and 2019 that defrauded victims of $2.5 million in cryptocurrency. Nwadavid created fake online personas to manipulate at least one primary victim in Massachusetts into unknowingly facilitating the transfer of over $2.5 million through remote account access and peer-to-peer crypto platforms. He faces up to 40 years in federal prison on charges of mail fraud and money laundering following his indictment by a Boston federal grand jury

Cryptocurrency ATMs have become a prevalent tool for scammers targeting older adults, with the FTC reporting $65 million in fraud losses through Bitcoin ATMs in the first half of 2024 alone—$46 million from victims aged 60 and older. Scammers use these unregulated kiosks in various schemes including romance and grandparent scams to trick victims into depositing cash. AARP Massachusetts is advocating for legislation requiring cryptocurrency ATM operator licensing, daily transaction limits, fraud warning notices, and consumer education to strengthen protections for residents.

Over 60,000 complaints were filed with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center about unpaid toll text scams, with scammers using location data and fake domains to impersonate state toll services and trick recipients into clicking malicious links. One Massachusetts resident received both legitimate and fraudulent toll texts, ultimately falling victim to confusion between the two and facing collection agency action before resolving the debt. The FBI advises people to avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, verify company contact information independently, and recognize that legitimate toll agencies do not request payments via text.

The FBI has warned of a rising trend of "home title theft" or quitclaim deed fraud, particularly targeting elderly homeowners in Massachusetts, after a Boston city employee and family members were accused of fraudulently transferring an 89-year-old man with dementia's paid-off Dorchester home to themselves and securing a $2 million mortgage against it. The scheme involved deceiving the homeowner into signing documents he believed were for insurance while forging his life partner's signature, then using the fraudulently obtained funds to purchase another property at foreclosure. The FBI attributes the increase in such cases since the COVID-19 pandemic to remote real estate transactions conducted via email and phone, which create

A 70-year-old Massachusetts woman experienced two separate fraud incidents—identity theft involving her name and social security number years earlier, and unauthorized debit card charges in February 2024 that were caught when she received a text alert for a fraudulent taxi charge in Oklahoma City. Her bank successfully stopped the fraudulent charges and issued a new card, advising her to use credit cards for online purchases and tap (rather than insert) debit cards in person to reduce fraud vulnerability. The article emphasizes the emotional toll of fraud on victims and recommends monitoring accounts regularly and staying alert to suspicious activity.

An 83-year-old Tampa woman lost $4,500 to a phishing scam after clicking a link in a text message impersonating Florida's SunPass toll system, which led to 25 fraudulent charges at stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The scam exemplifies a national surge in toll-related phishing fraud, where scammers send mass texts threatening license suspension or credit damage to pressure victims into entering payment information on fake portals. To protect yourself, avoid clicking unsolicited text links, verify messages directly with agencies through official websites, be skeptical of urgent threats, enable bank alerts, and report suspicious messages to 7726 (SPAM).

Lance Norman, 36, of Queens, was arrested for operating a Publishers Clearing House scam targeting a Columbia County resident who lost approximately $62,000 in cash across two in-person meetings in Hudson. Norman was located in Westchester County with a large sum of cash in his vehicle and was charged with grand larceny and conspiracy, both felonies. New York State Police urged the public to be cautious of prize or sweepstakes scams demanding upfront payments and to report suspicious financial activity targeting older adults.

Craig Clayton, a 75-year-old Rhode Island accountant, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice for laundering over $35 million in proceeds from internet fraud schemes targeting elderly victims through romance and business scams between 2019 and 2021. Clayton used his consulting business and shell companies, including Providence Sanitizer Inc., to process the fraudulent funds and transfer money to accounts in multiple countries, while lying to authorities about his activities. Under his plea agreement, Clayton faces 2.5 to 6.5 years in prison, must pay $140,000 in restitution, and forfeit over $330,000 and a vehicle.

ABC News is previewing an upcoming docuseries titled "Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam" that chronicles the stories of three women who were defrauded by the same romance scammer. The series examines how the perpetrator manipulated and conned multiple victims through romantic deception. Specific details about dollar amounts, victim identities, or the scammer's identity are not provided in this preview.

Milendophe Duperier and Vanessa Joseph, a Massachusetts couple, agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for operating a $3.2 million Ponzi scheme from 2018 to 2022, in which Duperier falsely posed as an investment advisor to solicit money from victims, particularly members of the Haitian community. The pair used investor funds for personal purchases (luxury vehicles, mortgage and credit card payments) and to pay earlier investors, supplementing the scheme with over $1.42 million in fraudulently obtained COVID-19 Small Business Administration and Paycheck Protection Program loans. Both defendants face up to 20 years

Massachusetts' Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations is conducting community education events to alert residents about increasingly common scams, noting that older Americans lost nearly $5 billion to fraud last year. Common fraud tactics include tech support, romance, and cryptocurrency scams, with advice to residents including changing passwords frequently, using two-factor authentication, avoiding calls from unknown numbers, and never sharing personal information with unsolicited callers. The state emphasizes that fraud affects all demographics and encourages residents to report scams or seek guidance through their consumer hotline at 617-973-8787.

This article does not describe elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It covers immigration enforcement policy debates in Massachusetts, specifically disputes between immigrant advocacy groups and Department of Homeland Security officials regarding detention and deportation procedures. This is outside the scope of Elderus, which focuses on elder-targeted fraud and abuse.

Eight individuals with ties to China, including 24-year-old Fangzheng Wang of Massachusetts, were indicted in a transnational elder fraud scheme that victimized approximately 300 people across at least 37 U.S. and Canadian states. The conspiracy used pop-up messages impersonating technology companies and government agencies (FTC, Federal Reserve) to convince seniors their financial accounts were compromised, then persuaded victims to transfer funds via wire, cryptocurrency, or cash to accounts controlled by the scammers, resulting in confirmed losses exceeding $5 million with an additional $16 million in suspected laundered funds identified. All eight defendants have been arrested and remain in federal custody

Eight individuals with ties to China have been indicted for operating a transnational elder fraud scheme that victimized approximately 300 seniors across at least 37 states and Canada, with confirmed losses exceeding $5 million and suspected laundered funds totaling around $16 million. The scammers used fake pop-up messages impersonating technology companies and government agencies to trick elderly victims into transferring funds via wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash purchases of gold bars to accounts controlled by the fraudsters. Fangzheng Wang, a 24-year-old Chinese national in Massachusetts, was among the eight defendants arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and related offenses.

**Medicare Fraud Prevention Week Awareness and Protection Guide** Medicare fraud costs American taxpayers over $60 billion annually and takes various forms including overcharges, fraudulent billing, unauthorized medical equipment orders, and identity theft schemes. The Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) recommends retirees protect themselves by never providing personal information over the phone, regularly reviewing Medicare statements and bills for errors, maintaining detailed medical journals documenting appointments and services received, and contacting SMP at 800-892-0890 or [email protected] if they suspect fraudulent charges or abuse.

Teresa Rogg, a 74-year-old Massachusetts resident, lost approximately $140,000 from her retirement account after falling victim to an evolving "phantom hacker" scam that began with a fake security pop-up and escalated to in-person cash pickups over two months. The scammers convinced her that suspicious activity had been detected on her accounts and instructed her to withdraw cash and hand it to couriers using code words, while also sending fraudulent letters impersonating the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Tech support scams in Massachusetts have surged dramatically, with reported losses increasing from $1.2 million in 2019 to over $50 million in the most

In 2024, Americans lost over $4.8 billion to financial scams across 147,127 reported complaints—a 46% increase in complaints and 43% increase in losses compared to 2023, according to FBI data released ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Massachusetts was particularly hard hit, with over 3,200 victims losing nearly $100 million, while the broader Boston Division reported $135 million in losses. Scammers exploit trust, loneliness, and fear by posing as romantic partners, tech support agents, government officials, or advisors, pressuring victims to send money through untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards.

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, the U.S. Department of Justice announced reinvigorated efforts to prosecute transnational elder fraud schemes that cost American seniors billions of dollars. Recent prosecutions in the District of Rhode Island include: a British national convicted in a multi-state construction fraud targeting seniors across four states for over $1 million; eight individuals indicted for orchestrating transnational tech support scams that defrauded approximately 300 seniors across 37 states of over $5 million; and two residents charged with grandparent scams that defrauded seniors in Rhode Island and Massachusetts of at least $230,000. The DOJ urged seniors an

The Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol Program, a national initiative to combat healthcare fraud and errors, presented educational workshops at its 11th Statewide Conference in May, emphasizing the billions of dollars annually lost to healthcare fraud and abuse. The program recommends that Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries maintain personal healthcare journals tracking all medical encounters, medications, and services, protect sensitive documents like Medicare cards, and ask key questions at medical appointments to detect errors and fraud. The MA SMP provides free educational sessions statewide and estimates that approximately 98,000 lives are lost annually due to medical errors, underscoring the importance of consumer engagement in preventing costly and health-damaging healthcare fraud and unnecessary treatments.