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Eugene Robert LeClear, a 52-year-old from Wheeling, West Virginia, was indicted for a romance scam in which he defrauded a woman of approximately $96,000 between 2022 and the time of charges. LeClear posed as a millionaire online, fabricated reasons for needing money (such as medical expenses and bail), and promised reimbursement that never came. He faces five counts of wire fraud, each carrying a potential 20-year federal prison sentence.

A 52-year-old West Virginia man was indicted for defrauding a woman of $96,000 through a romance scam that began in 2022, claiming he had access to millions of dollars and needed funds for medical expenses and bail. Robert LeClear repeatedly promised repayment but never followed through, and federal prosecutors charged him with five counts of wire fraud, each carrying a potential maximum of 20 years in prison.

AARP's Fraud Watch Network provides support services for fraud victims in Virginia, which ranks 9th nationally for senior scams. The network offers resources and assistance, and individuals can access more information by calling 877-908-3360.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of West Virginia launched an educational outreach campaign to inform older residents about financial fraud and elder abuse risks. U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld conducted the first event at a Morgantown senior living community, highlighting how seniors' trustworthiness and accumulated savings make them vulnerable to both stranger scams and fraud by loved ones or caretakers. Additional awareness events are planned across the region as part of the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for West Virginia launched an educational outreach campaign to protect seniors from financial fraud, with U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld conducting awareness events at senior living communities across the Northern District. The initiative addresses the prevalence of elder fraud in West Virginia, including scams by both strangers and trusted individuals like family members and caretakers, emphasizing that seniors' trustworthiness and accumulated savings make them vulnerable targets. Additional educational events are planned at assisted living facilities and senior communities as part of the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative.

Tosha Lantz, 31, of Texas was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison for defrauding an elderly West Virginia man of $32,400 through unauthorized bank transfers and fraudulent credit card openings using his personal information. Lantz will also serve three years of supervised release following her incarceration.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in West Virginia launched an educational outreach campaign to inform seniors about financial fraud risks, with U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld conducting the first event at a Morgantown senior living community. The initiative, part of the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative, aims to raise awareness about common scams targeting older adults—both from strangers and trusted individuals like family members and caretakers—and provide protective strategies. Additional events are planned across Northern District senior facilities, with fraud reporting available at 304-234-0100.

In 2023, Virginians lost $265 million to scams, with the FBI's Norfolk office receiving approximately 2,700 elder fraud complaints that year alone. Common schemes include investment scams targeting seniors, jury duty scams impersonating law enforcement, romance scams (the top locally reported type with 17,000 national incidents in 2023), and business email compromise attacks. The FBI advises victims and the public to verify suspicious requests, avoid clicking suspicious links, maintain open communication with vulnerable relatives, and report incidents to IC3.gov or local FBI offices.

Virginia State Police report an uptick in financial scams targeting older adults and vulnerable individuals, including anti-virus software scams (one victim lost $36,000), "grandparent scams" using AI voices to impersonate grandchildren in distress, and cryptocurrency fraud (one woman scammed out of $160,000 in Bitcoin). Police recommend independently verifying requests before responding, establishing a trusted "buddy system," and remembering that legitimate organizations never pressure payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

Nana Yaw Marfo, 39, of Alexandria, Virginia, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy for his role in laundering approximately $4.7 million stolen from romance scam victims across the United States. Marfo received the victims' money and wired it to overseas bank accounts through multiple business accounts to conceal the criminal proceeds. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine at sentencing scheduled for February 4, 2025.

A 39-year-old Virginia man pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy for handling approximately $4.7 million stolen from romance scam victims across the United States, which he laundered through multiple bank accounts under fake business names and wired to overseas accounts. Nana Yaw Marfo faces up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $500,000 or twice the value of funds involved for knowingly facilitating the illegal financial transfers.

I'm unable to provide an accurate summary of this content. The text appears to be a collection of truncated headlines from multiple unrelated articles about legal cases involving child welfare, pharmacy practices, weight loss, employment disputes, music rights, and election security—none of which are related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. To create a proper summary for the Elderus database, please provide: - A complete article specifically about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse, or - A full transcript of educational content focused on protecting older adults from financial or other exploitation

Jeffrey Morris, a 37-year-old real estate developer in Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding investors through forged leases, withheld information, and Ponzi-scheme payments that caused five or more victims to lose their savings. Morris must pay nearly $5 million in restitution to investors and over $500,000 to the IRS for unpaid taxes and penalties.

Dumfries town officials signed a TRIAD charter with Virginia's Attorney General on September 26 to protect seniors from online scams and fraud. TRIAD is a collaborative program involving law enforcement, community members, and seniors that aims to reduce crime victimization through awareness campaigns, education, and resource-sharing about local scams and available support services. Virginia has over 200 signed TRIAD agreements and is recognized nationally for having the highest number of active local TRIAD groups.

Following Hurricane Helene, West Virginia's Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau warned residents about charity and disaster scams, in which fraudsters solicit donations for fake charities that redirect funds to personal use rather than relief efforts. To protect themselves, donors should verify charities' legitimacy through established databases, avoid cash or wire transfers, pay by credit card, and research organizations independently before giving. Residents who encounter suspected fraudulent charities can report them to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808.

Charles Cox lost $272,000 to a "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scam after befriending someone on Facebook who posed as an investor and convinced him to invest in a fake bitcoin website over several months. The scammer used sophisticated tactics including fake account screenshots showing profits and requests to wire increasingly larger amounts, ultimately tricking Cox into sending $185,000 before Adult Protective Services intervention revealed the fraud. Cox's bank was unable to recover the funds, and he warns others to avoid clicking links from online contacts, refuse to meet in person if requested, and be skeptical of investment opportunities from people they've only met online.

Carlton Rembert, 70, was sentenced to 66 months in prison for his role in a guardianship fraud scheme that stole over $1 million from at least 120 incapacitated elderly people in Pennsylvania between 2012 and 2018. Working with his sister Gloria Byars, a court-appointed guardian, and co-conspirator Alesha Mitchell, Rembert deposited over $695,000 in fraudulent checks into shell company accounts and spent the stolen funds on personal expenses including vacations and vehicles. Rembert was ordered to pay $534,335 in restitution to victims.

Carlton Rembert, age 70, was sentenced to 66 months in prison for his role in a guardianship fraud scheme that exploited over 100 incapacitated elderly individuals between 2012 and 2018, resulting in losses exceeding $1 million. Working with court-appointed guardian Gloria Byars and accomplice Alesha Mitchell, Rembert deposited over $695,000 in stolen funds into shell company accounts and distributed the money among conspirators while disguising the thefts as medical expenses. Rembert was ordered to pay $534,335 in restitution and five years of supervised release following his conviction.

Leroy Artemus Tolbert, III, a 35-year-old from Michigan, pleaded guilty to wire fraud after fraudulently applying for Lowe's credit cards using another person's identity and purchasing approximately $100,000 in merchandise across multiple states including West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Tolbert has agreed to pay $100,000 in restitution and faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing to be determined by a federal judge.

The Suffolk Virginia Sheriff's Office warned residents of a jury duty scam in which callers fraudulently claim victims failed to appear for jury duty and demand sensitive personal information including Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and mother's maiden names. Legitimate court officials never request such sensitive information over the phone or ask victims to submit forms containing personal details.

This educational piece warns seniors about utility scams, where fraudsters impersonate utility companies and demand immediate payment under threat of service cutoff. The article advises recipients to hang up immediately, call their utility using the legitimate number on their bill, and report the scam to both the utility and the Federal Trade Commission. It notes that people over 65 lost nearly $1 billion to scams in 2020, with utility scams particularly prevalent in California, Florida, and Texas, making West Virginia seniors especially vulnerable given the state's high elderly population.

**Not applicable for elder fraud database.** This article excerpt does not contain information about elder fraud, scams targeting seniors, or elder abuse. It primarily covers a pharmacy benefit manager lawsuit related to the opioid crisis, which is a public health matter rather than elder fraud. The other brief mentions reference unrelated legal disputes (employment, music industry, elections, and sports gambling).

This article presents educational advice from a Scam Jam event in Richmond, Virginia, where experts from organizations including AARP Virginia and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service provided seniors with strategies to protect themselves against fraud. Speakers described various scams targeting older Americans, including durable medical equipment fraud, mail theft, identity theft, phishing, and AI-powered impersonation calls, and advised attendees to avoid unsolicited contacts, protect personal information, and use secure mailing practices. The event emphasized that fraudsters use both low-tech methods like mail theft and high-tech tactics like voice manipulation, and stressed that seniors should be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.

This article covers a "Scam Jam" educational event in Richmond, Virginia organized by AARP Virginia where law enforcement and fraud prevention experts educated about 30 seniors on common scams targeting older adults. Presenters from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol discussed various fraud schemes including mail theft, identity theft, durable medical equipment fraud, and AI-powered impersonation scams, while offering practical protective strategies such as mailing checks directly to post offices and shredding personal documents.

Elder fraud prevention advocate Janine Williamson called on Congress to pass the Protecting Consumers from Payment Scams Act (S. 4943 and H.R. 9303), which would require financial institutions to reimburse fraud victims and hold banks accountable, citing that one in three consumers experienced bank fraud resulting in $10 billion in losses last year. Williamson's advocacy is motivated by her uncle Larry Cook's loss of millions of dollars in a phishing scam, which inspired Virginia's HB 692 ("Larry's Law"), now in effect, requiring financial institutions to train employees to identify elder financial exploitation and establish trusted contacts on accounts. Williamson has filed a $

A retired Navy commander in Virginia had his estate drained of $3.6 million through 74 wire transfers to Thailand while suffering from diminished mental capacity due to a stroke, with his bank failing to prevent the fraud despite an address as suspicious as "165 alley behind the old Phraya Karai Temple Wat." In a separate case, an 84-year-old Los Angeles man and his 76-year-old wife lost $18.5 million of $29.5 million moved from their accounts after scammers convinced them of a data breach, with Bank of America failing to flag the highly anomalous transactions. These cases highlight systemic vulnerabilities in bank oversight

A 26-year-old man named Benjamin Yakah was arrested in Minnesota for operating an internet romance scam in which he posed as a woman named "Julia" on Facebook and defrauded a 77-year-old widower in Bradenton, Florida of over $100,000 across eight months. Yakah used stolen photos of a West Virginia woman without her knowledge and convinced the victim that he needed money to pay off a debt before relocating from the United Kingdom to Florida to start a relationship. The victim's children reported the scam to the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit in June, leading investigators to trace the fraudulent bank account to Yakah, and further investigation reveale

A 26-year-old Minnesota man, Benjamin Yakah, was arrested and faces grand theft charges after defrauding a 77-year-old Bradenton widower of over $100,000 in an eight-month internet romance scam. The victim was deceived by a fake Facebook profile using stolen photos of a West Virginia woman, who posed as "Julia" and convinced him to send cash and checks to Minnesota accounts under the pretense of relocating to Florida to be with him. The victim's children alerted authorities in June, leading to a five-month investigation and Yakah's arrest; evidence suggests he victimized additional people in other states.

A 77-year-old widower in Bradenton, Florida lost $100,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a British woman named "Julia" on Facebook and claimed she needed money to pay off a debt before relocating to be with him. The investigation, launched in June 2024 by the victim's children, revealed that suspect Benjamin Yakah used stolen photos from a West Virginia woman's Facebook account and had the victim send cash and checks to accounts in Minneapolis over an eight-month period. Yakah was arrested in Minnesota and is awaiting extradition to Manatee County; police suspect he scammed multiple victims across different states.

**Summary:** This educational piece presents financial fraud prevention advice from Jeff Sandy, a former West Virginia law enforcement official, highlighting common scams targeting the Mid-Ohio Valley including impersonation of loved ones (such as the "grandparent scam") and too-good-to-be-true offers. Sandy recommends critical thinking (asking "who, what, when, where, why"), maintaining open communication with elderly family members, limiting personal information shared online and in obituaries, and reporting fraud immediately to law enforcement or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov) without shame.

A 26-year-old Minnesota man, Benjamin Yakah, was arrested following a five-month investigation by the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit for stealing over $100,000 from a 77-year-old Bradenton widower through a romance scam. The victim was deceived by a fake Facebook profile using photos stolen from a West Virginia woman, with the scammer posing as "Julia" and convincing the victim to send money for an alleged debt settlement in Minnesota. The victim's children discovered the fraud in June 2024, and Yakah is currently awaiting extradition to Manatee County; investigators believe there may be additional victims in other

A scam targeting Navy Federal customers in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area involves criminals asking to borrow victims' phones in public locations, then using their Navy Federal app to take out loans and cash advances in their names before transferring the funds elsewhere. One 19-year-old victim, Angel Taylor, lost $4,000 in March 2023 when a man she lent her phone to in a Walmart parking lot obtained a personal loan and cash advance; despite reporting it to Navy Federal within minutes, she was held liable for repayment. Dozens of similar cases have been reported across the region, with police citing insufficient evidence to pursue charges despite having the recipient's account information.

A Collin College student, Mark Aiseosa Kadiri, was arrested on November 21, 2024, for operating a financial fraud scheme targeting elderly victims across multiple states, including Virginia and Texas. Investigators found approximately $61,000 in fraudulent funds deposited into his bank account and executed a search warrant at his campus residence to gather additional evidence. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify additional victims and file further charges.

During the holiday season, seniors are being warned about phishing scams, particularly text messages impersonating postal services and shipping companies that trick recipients into clicking malicious links to "confirm delivery." State Senator Chris Head and local aging advocates are urging seniors to avoid clicking unsolicited links, verify requests independently, and never share personal information via text messages, as these scams are actively circulating and targeting vulnerable populations.

As holiday shopping season approaches with record-breaking online sales predicted, scammers are deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics to defraud consumers. Virginia Tech cybercrime expert Katalin Parti outlines key warning signs and prevention strategies, including: avoiding unsolicited requests for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency, being skeptical of high-return investment ads, verifying company contact information through official websites rather than provided links, and remaining cautious of romance scams, job scams, and fake charitable solicitations. Consumers should also monitor financial statements for fraud, keep software updated, verify website URLs, and be aware that scammers can now spoof voices and area codes to impersonate trusted contacts.

Phishing scams impersonating delivery services like USPS are prevalent during the holiday season, with scammers sending text messages with malicious links designed to steal personal information or install malware. The IRS also warns of fraudulent emails falsely claiming tax refunds or bills, while the Better Business Bureau advises consumers to avoid clicking suspicious links and never pay with Bitcoin or gift cards, using bank or credit cards instead. One victim in the Central Virginia area lost $22,000 after being tricked into purchasing Bitcoin, illustrating the serious financial consequences of falling for these scams.

This article reviews WalletHub's rankings of elder-abuse protections, finding that Ohio ranks 4th nationally and West Virginia ranks 9th, with both states performing well on legal safeguards and resources despite some areas needing improvement. As Ohio's elderly population is projected to reach 25.1% by 2030 and West Virginia's to reach approximately 30%, the article emphasizes that lawmakers, officials, and families must prioritize continued efforts to prevent elder abuse through accessible quality care facilities, volunteer ombudsmen programs, and public education.

Ohio and West Virginia rank 4th and 9th respectively on WalletHub's list of states with the best elder-abuse protections, with Ohio particularly strong in legal protections and low fraud prevalence. However, both states face opportunities for improvement, including West Virginia's need for more certified volunteer ombudsmen and better nursing home quality standards, especially as their elderly populations are projected to grow significantly by 2030. Experts emphasize that continued legislative efforts, public awareness, and family vigilance are essential to safeguard these vulnerable populations from physical, financial, and mental abuse.

**Summary:** Stephanie Mobley, owner of ComfortZone Home Health Care in Pennsylvania, her daughter Naya Campbell, and 18 others were charged in a $12 million Medicaid fraud scheme that operated from 2020 to 2023. The defendants allegedly filed false reimbursement claims for services never provided, diverting millions in funds intended for vulnerable Medicaid recipients. All 20 defendants face charges including Medicaid fraud, theft by deception, and conspiracy, with the case uncovered following a two-year investigation by the Pennsylvania Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, FBI, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Attorney General Jason Miyares announced charges against 18 individuals in connection with elder abuse and neglect at Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Virginia, initiated after a complaint and subsequent patient death in October 2024. As of December 18, 2024, five individuals were arrested and warrants were issued for 13 others, with charges including seven felony counts and two misdemeanor counts of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults, two counts of obstruction, and 27 counts of falsifying patient records. The investigation involved the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Colonial Heights Police Department, and Virginia Department of Health.

An elderly Navy veteran, Larry Cook of Virginia, lost $3.6 million to scammers through fraudulent wire transfers processed by Navy Federal Credit Union and Wells Fargo after suffering a stroke; notably, the bank continued processing 42 transfers totaling $2.3 million even after adult protective services notified them in January 2021 that Cook was a suspected fraud victim. Cook's niece, Janine Williamson, appealed the case after it was dismissed in 2023, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has granted the appeal, scheduling oral arguments for March 2025. Williamson has since advocated for elder fraud protections,

A retired submarine commander lost $3.6 million to scammers despite his banks' concerns, prompting Virginia to propose "Larry's Law"—legislation requiring banks to report suspected fraud to police. However, industry lobbyists successfully removed the mandatory reporting clause before the bill passed, and similar elder fraud protection measures in California and Pennsylvania have also been blocked or weakened by banking industry opposition, even as elderly Americans lose an estimated $28 billion annually to fraud. Banks argue that consumer education and voluntary reporting to adult protective services are sufficient, but enforcement of existing reporting requirements remains lax across states.

A Richmond, Virginia woman lost over $30,000 in a phishing scam after receiving a fake PayPal email warning of malware purchase. The scammer posed as a PayPal representative who claimed she had accidentally sent too much money and appealed to her sympathy by saying he would lose his job, prompting her to withdraw $34,300 from her banks and attempt to transfer it via bitcoin machine. Police obtained a search warrant to shut down the bitcoin machine before the funds could be withdrawn, recovered all of the victim's money, and traced the scammer to a location outside the United States.

An 80-year-old Virginia woman lost tens of thousands of dollars in life savings to a bank imposter scam after receiving a fraudulent message claiming to be from Wells Fargo and providing a phone number to call. She unknowingly gave her account information to scammers posing as bank security, resulting in unauthorized withdrawals; Wells Fargo initially denied reimbursement citing that she willingly provided the information, though the bank is now investigating the case. The victim urged others to verify caller identity independently and never share account information in response to unsolicited contact.

A retired U.S. submarine commander lost $3.6 million to scammers in Asia despite his banks' concerns, prompting Virginia lawmakers to propose "Larry's Law" requiring banks to report suspected fraud to police; however, industry lobbyists successfully removed this clause before passage. Across the United States, elderly Americans lose an estimated $28 billion annually to fraud, yet states struggle to hold banks accountable as the industry resists legislation that would increase their liability, citing concerns about costs and customer impact, while existing reporting requirements often go unenforced.

A retired FBI special agent, John Schwartz, founded the Center for Combating Elder Financial Abuse in 2021 to protect the nation's 58 million seniors from financial scams. He emphasizes that scammers exploit trust and isolation, recommending that seniors conduct vulnerability assessments, slow down new relationships, and "harden the target" through education and vigilance. Schwartz collaborates with Virginia organizations to build community support and empower seniors and families against financial predators.

Patrick Wall, a homeless man posing as a masonry worker, scammed elderly victims in Nassau County from September 2023 to January 2025 by offering home repair services, then intentionally causing additional damage to increase costs. Wall was arrested and faces multiple felony charges including grand larceny, scheme to defraud, and conspiracy; police are urging additional victims to contact detectives at 516-573-6354.

A smishing scam targeting drivers across the DMV region (Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) uses text messages impersonating toll agencies to trick recipients into sharing personal information through fraudulent links. The FBI recommends recipients report the scam to IC3.gov, verify accounts through official toll service websites, contact legitimate customer service, and secure their financial accounts if they clicked any links or shared information.

Joseph Beach, age 55, of West Virginia, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for wire fraud after fraudulently obtaining $253,867.12 from his elderly father while serving as the father's fiduciary. Beach misappropriated his father's veteran's disability, retirement, and social security benefits for personal use, and was ordered to pay full restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Joseph Beach, a 55-year-old West Virginia man, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing $253,867.12 from his elderly father by misusing veteran's disability, retirement, and Social Security benefits that he managed as his father's fiduciary. Beach pleaded guilty in March 2024 and was ordered to pay full restitution plus serve three years of supervised release.