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A 78-year-old woman in Washington Township, New Jersey nearly lost $24,600 in a multi-layered scam involving fake iCloud alerts, spoofed police calls, and impersonation of a banker pressuring her to withdraw cash. An alert Uber driver recognized the suspicious situation and prevented the fraud by warning the woman and returning her to the bank to re-deposit the money. Washington Township Police partnered with the FBI to hold a senior scam awareness seminar in response to the incident.

**Summary:** The U.S. Postal Inspection Service issued a warning during National Consumer Protection Week (March 2-8, 2025) about imposter scams, where fraudsters pose as trusted contacts or legitimate organizations to steal personally identifiable information and drain financial accounts. The agency provided protective measures including: avoiding rushed financial decisions, verifying bank communications directly, confirming grandchild emergencies through known contacts, recognizing romance scams, ignoring fraudulent USPS texts, registering with the Do Not Call Registry, and reporting suspected fraud to the Inspection Service.

Senator Jon Ossoff pressed the Trump Administration's FTC to strengthen protections for Georgia's 1.2 million seniors, citing alarming increases in financial scams affecting the state's senior population. According to FBI data, losses from scams targeting Georgia seniors surged from $25 million in 2020 to $92 million in 2023, placing Georgia among the top five states for senior financial fraud. The senator emphasized the substantial financial and emotional toll on seniors and their caregivers, demanding stronger FTC action to restore confidence in the financial system.

Senator Jon Ossoff pressed the Trump Administration's FTC to strengthen protections for Georgia's 1.2 million seniors from financial scams, citing alarming increases in fraud losses from $25 million in 2020 to $92 million in 2023. Georgia ranked among the top five states most affected by senior financial fraud in 2023, creating substantial financial and emotional strain on seniors and their caregivers.

Social Security scams are increasing in Washington State, with fraudsters impersonating the SSA through phone calls, emails, and text messages to threaten arrest, demand immediate payment, or steal personal information like Social Security numbers and bank details. The SSA never threatens, demands payment, or requests sensitive information via phone or email, so residents should hang up on suspicious calls and verify any claims directly through ssa.gov or the official customer service number. Victims should report incidents to the SSA's Office of the Inspector General and the FTC, monitor their accounts and credit reports, and use the secure "My Social Security account" portal to safely access their information.

**Article:** 10 States Where Retiree Fraud Is on the Rise According to analysis of government elder fraud complaint data, ten states experienced significant increases in elder fraud cases between 2022 and 2023, with Arizona leading at a 36% increase (212 to 289 cases per 100,000 seniors). Other notably affected states include Utah (23% increase), Rhode Island and North Carolina (22% and 20% increases respectively), and Texas, Washington, Oregon, Mississippi, Kansas, and Oklahoma (ranging from 18-20% increases). The data underscores the need for retirees in these high-risk states to heighten financial vigil

A 2025 analysis of government elder fraud complaint data identified 10 states experiencing significant increases in fraud cases targeting retirees between 2022 and 2023. Arizona led with a 36% increase (212 to 289 cases per 100,000 seniors), followed by Utah (23% increase) and Rhode Island (22% increase), with Texas, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, Kansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma also showing substantial growth ranging from 18-20%. The data underscores the need for vigilance among retirees in these high-risk states.

Ten U.S. states experienced significant increases in elder fraud cases between 2022 and 2023, with Arizona leading at a 36% increase (212 to 289 cases per 100,000 seniors), followed by Utah (23% increase) and Rhode Island (22% increase). Other states with notable rises include Texas, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, all ranging from 18-20% increases in fraud complaints per capita. The analysis highlights that popular retirement destinations are experiencing elevated fraud risk, prompting seniors in these states to increase financial vigilance.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is seeking access to Social Security Administration data to identify and combat fraud, with White House officials claiming potential savings of over $1 trillion over a decade through crackdowns on entitlement system fraud. Elon Musk has posted claims of massive fraud in Social Security, citing data showing more eligible social security numbers than U.S. citizens, though a 2023 SSA audit found that nearly 19 million records for people over 100 with active numbers receive almost no benefits. The push for data access has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers concerned about potential data breaches, and reportedly led to the departure of SSA acting commissioner Michelle

A Washington State House hearing examined a bill to protect vulnerable adults after an Olympia senior citizen lost $300,000 in a coercion scam where fraudsters convinced her to liquidate investments and wire funds to purchase gold coins. The proposed House Bill 1900 would require banks to flag suspected fraudulent activity on vulnerable adults' accounts and immediately notify state authorities, addressing a gap in federal law that leaves victims of coerced wire transfers without reimbursement protection. The bill's sponsor cited the victim's case as motivation to prevent others from losing their life savings to financial exploitation.

A 75-year-old Washington woman was targeted by a skincare spa scam in which the business owner, 27-year-old Hai Baranetz, built a relationship with her during treatments and then pressured her to withdraw $1 million (later reduced to $50,000) from her bank for a supposed "body sculpture" contest. Alert bank tellers recognized the manipulation and refused her withdrawal requests, with one calling police, leading to Baranetz's arrest; authorities also received multiple complaints of tens of thousands of dollars in overcharges and fraudulent practices at his BH28 Skincare Consultants business.

A 75-year-old Washington woman was targeted by a skincare scam operator who initially charged her $5,000 for spa treatments, then manipulated her through flattery and false promises of a spokesperson contest to attempt withdrawing $1 million (later reduced to $50,000) from her bank. Alert bank tellers recognized the scam and refused the withdrawals, leading to the arrest of 27-year-old spa owner Hai Baranetz, who faced investigations into multiple complaints of overcharges and fraud targeting vulnerable seniors.

A 75-year-old Vancouver, Washington woman was recruited at a mall kiosk to join a spa program at BH28 Skincare Consultants, where the 27-year-old owner charged her $5,000 and then attempted to manipulate her into withdrawing $1 million (later reduced to $50,000) from her bank for additional treatments. Alert bank tellers recognized the scam and refused the withdrawal, with one teller calling police; the owner was arrested and the business subsequently closed following multiple complaints of overcharges and financial exploitation of vulnerable seniors.

A 75-year-old Washington woman was nearly defrauded of $50,000 by a skincare spa operator who lured her in with complimentary eye cream samples and red light treatments, building rapport before pressuring her to withdraw cash for a fake "contestant" program. After the operator drove her to the bank and demanded she withdraw $1 million (later reduced to $50,000), alert bank tellers recognized the scam, refused her request, and alerted authorities, leading to the 27-year-old suspect's arrest. Police reported receiving multiple complaints from vulnerable seniors who had been overcharged at the skincare store, which was later abandoned.

A 74-year-old Washington senior lost $624,000 in life savings to a gold bar scam orchestrated by 42-year-old Zhichao Huang, who was extradited from California to face charges. The scam followed a common pattern: a fake pop-up mimicking Charles Schwab prompted the victim to call a number, where an imposter claiming to be a federal agent convinced her to liquidate stocks and retirement accounts into gold bars, then collect them in a parking lot under false pretenses. Between May and December 2023, the FBI reported over $55 million in losses from similar gold bar scams targeting seniors nationwide, with investigators susp

Washington's Attorney General's Office warned residents to watch for charity scams exploiting donations for California wildfire relief efforts. The advisory urged donors to research charities before giving, verify tax-exempt status, avoid high-pressure tactics, and report suspicious solicitations to protect themselves from fraudulent organizations using deceptive names and websites.

A 74-year-old senior in Lynwood, Washington lost $624,711 in life savings to a gold bar scam after responding to a fake Charles Schwab pop-up and being manipulated by scammers posing as federal agents who convinced her to liquidate investments and convert them to gold bars, which she handed over in a parking lot. The suspect, 42-year-old Zhichao Huang, was extradited from Los Angeles to face charges, and investigators suspect the scheme may be part of a larger fraud ring, as the FBI reported over $55 million in similar gold bar scam losses between May and December 2023. To protect themselves, seniors

A senior named David was defrauded of $435,000 by brothers Patrick and Matthew McDonagh, who posed as home repair contractors, pressured him into authorizing bogus repairs, and failed to complete the work over several weeks until his daughter intervened. The McDonaghs pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud conspiracy charges and received 18-month prison sentences; while $200,000 was recovered through a reversed wire transfer, most of the money was lost, and the brothers are expected to be deported to Ireland after serving their time. The case highlights predatory home repair scams targeting seniors, with Washington state reporting over $88 million in elder financial fraud losses in

Lynnwood Police arrested a 41-year-old man in California in December for allegedly stealing over $600,000 from retired victims through an impersonation scam involving fake calls from a 1-800 number posing as a U.S. Treasury Agent demanding payment. The suspect was extradited to Washington and charged with first-degree theft and first-degree criminal impersonation. Police emphasized that legitimate federal agencies never call demanding money and urged the public to hang up on such calls and report them immediately.

A 74-year-old Washington woman lost $624,711 in life savings to a scammer who impersonated a federal agent after a fraudulent pop-up alert on her computer convinced her account had been hacked. The victim liquidated her stocks and IRA contributions, initially intended to be wired via Bitcoin, but when that failed, she purchased gold bars and handed them to 42-year-old Zhichao Huang in a Lynnwood parking lot. Huang was extradited from Los Angeles and police believe this scam is part of a larger operation targeting seniors using similar tactics.

**Summary:** Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning residents about charity scams targeting donations for California wildfire relief efforts. The alert provides guidance on verifying charities through independent sources (IRS, BBB, Charity Navigator, etc.), confirming proper licensing, and identifying red flags such as requests for immediate payment via non-refundable methods, demands for personal information, or pressure tactics. Donors are advised to research organizations before giving, request written documentation, and donate only to trusted charities with transparent information about how funds will be used.

Lincare Inc., an oxygen equipment rental provider, paid Washington state $1.15 million to settle Medicaid fraud charges after overbilling the state's Medicaid program more than 15,000 times between January 2017 and March 2023. The company illegally charged rental fees beyond the three-year legal limit allowed under Washington law, in some cases billing for up to six years, affecting 565 patients and causing over $500,000 in fraudulent charges. As part of the settlement, Lincare must implement billing reforms and comply with Washington's oxygen leasing laws.

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.

Lincare Inc., an oxygen equipment provider, overbilled Washington state's Medicaid program more than 15,000 times between January 2017 and March 2023 by charging rental fees beyond the legally allowed three-year period, in some cases billing for up to six years. The fraudulent billing affected 565 Washington patients and resulted in over $500,000 in overbilling, for which Lincare paid the state $1.15 million in restitution. The company has agreed to implement billing reforms and retain independent experts to ensure compliance with Washington's oxygen leasing laws.

The Social Security Administration is warning the public about ongoing scams involving fraudulent calls requesting personal details and banking information. The SSA clarifies that it will never request personal information or money in exchange for benefits, and advises recipients to hang up on suspicious calls and report them to the appropriate authorities.

An 80-year-old Washington DC retiree was defrauded through a government impersonation scam in which scammers posing as FBI and police officials convinced her to withdraw $595,000 from her 401(k) to assist in a fake drug cartel investigation. In addition to losing her life savings, Boivin now faces a $180,000 tax liability ($137,000 federal and $42,000 state) since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated protections that previously allowed fraud victims to claim theft deductions. Two bipartisan bills in Congress that would restore these protections for fraud victims remain stalled in the intro

An 80-year-old retired therapist in Washington, DC was defrauded by scammers posing as FBI agents and police officers who convinced her that her Social Security number was involved in criminal activity. Over several months in 2023, she withdrew $595,000 from her 401(k) to assist in a fake investigation, resulting in a $180,000+ tax liability she now owes to the IRS and Maryland. The scam traces to a call center in India, and while she may have limited recourse for the stolen funds, potential Congressional legislation could restore tax deductions for fraud victims that were eliminated in 2017.

This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a public safety statement from the Washington State Patrol Chief responding to violent attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas, urging the public to remain situationally aware and report suspicious activity to law enforcement. The article does not contain information relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office warned the public about scammers impersonating deputies, specifically claiming to be "Deputy Tony Androns" and requesting return calls to 724-409-8449 regarding a "confidential matter." This was the second such impersonation scam targeting the area within a month, and officials emphasized that law enforcement never calls to collect money. Residents who receive these calls are urged to contact their local police department.

Violent crime against seniors in the United States increased 331% over the past decade, prompting a shift in retirement planning toward safety considerations. Seniorly's analysis of FBI data and federal statistics identified New Jersey as the safest state for older adults to retire, followed by New York and Mississippi, while Colorado and Western states (Nevada, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico) ranked as the most dangerous due to high rates of elder fraud, property crime, and violent crime. The safest states were characterized by strong police presence, lower elder fraud rates, and better healthcare access, with East Coast states dominating the top 10.

Violent crime against seniors in the United States increased 331% over the past decade, prompting a comprehensive safety analysis of all 50 states across seven categories including scams, violent crime, property crime, falls, and healthcare access. New Jersey ranked as the safest state for retirement with low elder fraud and violent crime rates, while East Coast states dominated the top 10; conversely, Western states like Colorado, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon ranked as the least safe due to high property crime, elder fraud, and limited police presence. The research reveals a significant shift in retirement planning priorities, with older adults now prioritizing security alongside traditional factors.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that Metropolitan Commercial Bank will pay $10 million to the state as part of a fraud recovery initiative that has collected over $52 million from financial institutions that accepted stolen COVID-19 pandemic unemployment funds. Criminals stole more than $15 million from Washington's unemployment fund in 2020 using fake identities and MovoCash, a fintech company sponsored by Metropolitan, which failed to implement adequate anti-fraud and money-laundering safeguards. This marks the second phase of Ferguson's investigation—the first to pursue fintech companies through state consumer protection laws—following an initial phase that recovered $42 million from 26 financial institutions through asset forfeiture.

**Summary:** The IRS issued an alert warning seniors about increasingly sophisticated tax scams designed to steal personal information and financial assets through manipulative tactics. The agency advises older Americans to avoid sharing sensitive data with unsolicited callers, verify suspicious communications independently, use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and report fraud to the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-FRAUD-11) or directly to the IRS.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service warned of a "smishing" scam in which fraudsters send text messages impersonating USPS, claiming packages cannot be delivered and directing recipients to click malicious links (such as https://usps.com-packagesue.net) to confirm address information. The scam aims to steal financial account information, compromise credit reports, and obtain personal data for identity theft or resale. The FCC recommends never clicking suspicious links, deleting fraudulent texts, keeping devices updated with security software, enabling multi-factor authentication, and contacting USPS directly through their official website to verify package status.

FinCEN issued an alert warning the public about fraudsters impersonating FinCEN officials or misusing the agency's name, insignia, and authority to perpetrate financial scams, including schemes exploiting beneficial ownership reporting and the Money Services Business Registration tool. FinCEN emphasized that legitimate officials will never threaten, demand immediate payment, or contact people via unsolicited email, call, or text, and urged the public to report suspected impersonation to the Treasury Inspector General, FTC, and FBI. Victims aged 60 and older can report fraud to the Department of Justice's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11.

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.

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.

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.

A 73-year-old Marysville, Washington woman lost at least $20,000 to a romance scam involving an imposter posing as MSNBC anchor Ari Melber on a fake Facebook profile. Over four months, the scammer convinced Patricia that they were in love and would marry, sent her a counterfeit ring, and manipulated her into sending money by claiming his dog was dying and he lacked access to funds; the situation escalated when she boarded a plane to New York to meet him, prompting her family to intercept her during a layover. The case highlights a broader problem: the FBI reported over 101,000 people aged

A 73-year-old Marysville, Washington grandmother was defrauded of at least $20,000 by a scammer impersonating MSNBC anchor Ari Melber through a fake Facebook profile, who convinced her to send money for his sick dog and later claimed to be in love with her, even sending a fake engagement ring and AI-generated voice messages. The scammer had manipulated Patricia over four months and nearly convinced her to travel to New York to meet him in person before her family intercepted her during a layover in Portland. The case reflects a broader trend, with the FBI reporting over 101,000 people age 60 and older fell victim

Brandon Alford, a 47-year-old employee in Washington, Indiana, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for defrauding his employer through a scheme involving a fake company called A&D Distributing LLC. Between December 2017 and January 2023, Alford submitted 25 fraudulent invoices totaling $1,006,500 for machine parts that were never ordered or delivered, while also evading taxes on the fraud proceeds from 2017-2022. He was ordered to pay $1,006,500 in restitution to his employer and $319,793.02 to the IRS.

Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested in Texas in December 2023 on 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million. Using fake profiles under variations of the name "Giovanni" on dating websites like Match and Christian Café, Nwadialo posed as a deployed military officer and convinced victims to send money for various false expenses, including military fines, funeral costs, and investment schemes; individual victims lost between $270,000 and $2.4 million.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission charged Washington State pastor Francier Obando Pinillo with operating a fraudulent multilevel marketing scheme involving digital assets that defrauded at least 1,515 customers, primarily Spanish-speaking members of his church, of at least $5.9 million. Pinillo falsely claimed to operate an automated cryptocurrency trading platform offering guaranteed monthly profits up to 34.9% while actually misappropriating all customer funds and fabricating account statements; he also operated a Ponzi scheme by using later customers' assets to pay earlier investors. The CFTC is seeking restitution, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil penalties, trading

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is warning small businesses of scam letters impersonating the Secretary of State's Office that demand excessive payments (over $200) for business filings while threatening fines or business dissolution; similar telephone scams targeting Latino businesses have also been reported, with at least 40 complaints received since early November. The fraudulent letters, which include the state seal and publicly available business information to appear legitimate, contain telltale signs of fraud such as Sacramento, California addresses and .org website links instead of official .gov sites. Business owners are advised to verify filing status directly with the Secretary of State and to report suspected scams to the Attorney General's Office.

Senator Marsha Blackburn warned during a Senate hearing that seniors are increasingly targeted by AI-enabled fraud and scams, with criminals using sophisticated tools like personalized phishing emails and chatbots to deceive consumers at scale. The FTC reported that scams cost Americans $10 billion over the last 12 months, with AI driving much of this increase. Blackburn called for Congress to pass legislation establishing online privacy standards and stronger protections for consumers in the digital space.

A phishing scam targeting members of the trans community in Washington, D.C. attempted to redirect employee payroll by sending fraudulent emails impersonating workers and requesting banking information changes. At least two individuals—SC Nealy, founder of LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative, and SK Smigiel, a content creator—were targeted, with Nealy falling victim after providing banking details based on a convincing fake email. The scammers reportedly gathered personal information from social media to craft targeted messages, highlighting how phishing scams evolve and exploit vulnerable communities.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has joined a multi-sector national task force convened by the Aspen Institute to develop a comprehensive strategy for preventing fraud and scams. FinCEN will participate in working groups alongside financial services, technology companies, consumer advocacy groups, and federal agencies to create cross-sector recommendations for combating fraud. This initiative expands FinCEN's public-private partnerships in addressing fraud, cybercrime, and illicit finance risks.

This article announces The Assembly Caribbean 2024, a virtual anti-financial crime conference hosted by ACAMS on December 5-6, 2024, featuring over 40 experts and regulatory officials addressing compliance challenges in the Caribbean region. The conference will cover fraud risks including elder fraud, romance scams, and "pig butchering" schemes, alongside discussions of money laundering, sanctions enforcement, virtual assets regulation, and the fentanyl crisis. The event aims to provide compliance professionals with practical strategies to detect financial crimes and implement effective anti-money laundering measures tailored to the Caribbean's unique AFC landscape.

This article announces President-elect Trump's nomination of former NFL player Scott Turner to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), based on Turner's prior experience as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump's first administration. Turner's previous work overseeing 16 federal agencies resulted in over $50 billion in private investment through Opportunity Zones, which funded affordable housing, clean technology, and community revitalization projects. The nomination has been supported by former HUD Secretary Ben Carson and Senator Tim Scott, with the Senate Banking Committee expected to consider the nomination.

The Eldercare Locator launched a national "Home for the Holidays" campaign to help older adults and families protect themselves from financial fraud and scams during the holiday season. According to the FBI, scams targeting people age 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with fraud increasing during the holidays due to heightened online shopping and donation appeals that scammers exploit, particularly targeting isolated or lonely individuals. The campaign provides resources to help older adults recognize, prevent, and report financial scams and fraud.