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Dr. Magaly Mercedes Velasquez, her spouse Maria Jose Talavera, and billing manager Jessica Monique Perez were sentenced in Riverside County for operating a fraudulent billing scheme that defrauded California's Medi-Cal program of nearly $800,000. Velasquez and Talavera each received 364 days in jail and were ordered to pay $770,238 in restitution to Medi-Cal, while Perez received two years of probation. The case was prosecuted by the California Department of Justice's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse.

I appreciate you sharing this content, but I'm unable to provide a meaningful summary. The text appears to be fragmented headlines and article openings from multiple unrelated stories covering child welfare law, pharmacy practices, weight loss, employment disputes, music industry litigation, and election safeguarding—none of which relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse that the Elderus database focuses on. Please provide a complete article specifically about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse for summarization.

At a California senior scam awareness seminar, officials warned that seniors remain the primary target for financial fraud due to their assets, with losses exceeding $3.4 billion reported to the FBI in 2023 alone. Common scams targeting older adults include online romance fraud (median loss over $9,000 for those 70+), annuity schemes, imposter calls impersonating government agencies and companies, tech support scams, and home remodeling fraud. Experts advised seniors to verify caller information independently, recognize high-pressure sales tactics and false urgency, and remember that government agencies do not initiate contact by phone.

Californians experience the highest losses nationally from online investment scams, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, with fraudsters often exploiting personal relationships and creating false legitimacy to gain victims' trust. The article provides guidance on protecting oneself from investment fraud, including verifying licenses through California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, requesting written prospectuses, consulting third-party financial professionals, and avoiding unsolicited offers promising guaranteed high returns or urgency to invest. Victims are encouraged to report scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center or local law enforcement without shame.

Current and former residents of three Brookdale Senior Living communities in California advanced a class action lawsuit (Stiner vs. Brookdale, filed 2017) after a judge certified three community-based subclasses in July, with trial scheduled for January. The residents alleged elder financial abuse, widespread ADA violations, understaffing that prevented adequate care including medication errors and basic hygiene needs, and violations of California's consumer protection laws. Brookdale denied the allegations and stated it was pleased with the court's partial denial of plaintiffs' motions, though the company faces multiple lawsuits regarding staffing levels and service quality claims.

This article provides guidance on Medicaid eligibility requirements for nursing home care, which vary by state but generally require applicants to have limited income and assets (typically under $2,000 in countable assets for individuals, though California and some states have higher limits). Medicaid is the largest payer of nursing home care in the U.S., and once qualified, seniors must typically spend down their income and assets on care costs, with only a small personal needs allowance (usually $50-$150 monthly) retained. The article also explains special spousal protections that allow a healthy spouse to retain up to approximately $128,000 in assets and income when one spouse enters a nursing home, an

A 74-year-old woman, Diane Field, sued "Real Housewives of Orange County" alum Vicki Gunvalson and business partner Ali Hashemian for financial elder abuse, fraud, and negligence, alleging they misrepresented a life insurance contract as a one-time $300,000 payment when it was actually an annual fee. Field, who was vulnerable due to her husband's declining health and later her own lung cancer diagnosis, paid approximately $900,000 in premiums between 2019 and 2023 based on allegedly fraudulent sales tactics and misleading representations about the contract terms and costs.

The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation warns that AI-powered investment scams are targeting consumers, with voice cloning being a primary technique scammers use to deceive victims into sending money. The post directs readers to additional information about other fraudulent tactics scammers employ in AI investment schemes.

Five Chinese nationals were indicted for operating a multinational fraud ring that scammed over 2,000 seniors out of more than $27 million between 2021 and 2023. The defendants used unsolicited pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls to direct victims to scam call centers in India, then employed social engineering and remote access software to convince victims to send money via wire transfer or express mail packages to Southern California and Nevada addresses, which the defendants picked up using fake identities and laundered through cryptocurrency. Law enforcement arrested four defendants in a coordinated operation in July 2024, while the fifth was arrested in April 2024.

A multinational fraud ring involving five defendants from Southern California and Nevada targeted approximately 2,000 elderly people across the United States, defrauding them of more than $27 million between 2021 and 2023. The scammers used unsolicited pop-ups, emails, and phone calls to lure victims to call centers in India, then gained remote access to their computers and impersonated technical support, government, and bank officials to trick victims into sending money via wire transfer or express mail. The defendants allegedly laundered the stolen funds through cryptocurrency to co-conspirators in India, with four arrested in Los Angeles and Las Vegas in April and one arrested previously.

Five Chinese nationals in California and Nevada conspired with India-based fraudsters to defraud more than 2,000 elderly Americans of over $27 million between 2021 and 2023 through pop-up ads, phishing emails, and phone calls that led victims to phony call centers where scammers impersonated bankers and government officials and gained remote access to their computers. The victims sent cash and wire transfers to real businesses like CVS Pharmacy where the defendants picked up packages using fake IDs, then laundered the money through cryptocurrency transactions with their India-based co-conspirators. Four defendants were arrested during coordinated raids in Nevada and Los Angeles County; the fifth was

Five Chinese nationals were arrested in a coordinated operation for allegedly operating a multinational fraud ring that targeted over 2,000 seniors across the U.S. from 2021 to mid-2024, resulting in losses exceeding $27 million. The defendants used unsolicited pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls to direct victims to scam call centers in India, where they impersonated technical support and government officials, installed remote access software on victims' computers, and convinced them to send money via wire transfers or cash packages to addresses in Southern California and Nevada. The defendants allegedly picked up packages containing cash from CVS locations using fake IDs as part of an international money laundering operation for an Indian sc

Five Chinese nationals in California and Nevada conspired with India-based fraudsters to defraud over 2,000 elderly Americans of more than $27 million between 2021 and 2023 using tech support scams, government impersonation, and refund schemes. The defendants lured victims through pop-up ads and unsolicited calls to phony Indian call centers, then used remote access software to gain computer control and convince victims to send cash via wire transfer or express mail to businesses like CVS, which the defendants retrieved using fake IDs before laundering funds through cryptocurrency. Four of the five defendants were arrested during coordinated raids in Nevada and Los Angeles County in connection with the federal in

Five Chinese nationals were arrested in connection with a multinational fraud ring that defrauded over 2,000 seniors of more than $27 million between 2021 and June 2024. The defendants and their co-conspirators contacted elderly victims through pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls, posing as technical support, government, and bank workers to trick them into installing remote desktop software and sending money via wire transfers and express mail packages to Southern California and Nevada addresses. The defendants collected packages from retail locations using fake identities and laundered money for Indian-based scam call centers as part of an organized conspiracy involving mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Five Chinese nationals, including Henderson resident Zao Wang, were charged as part of a multinational fraud ring that defrauded over 2,000 senior citizens out of $27 million between 2021 and 2023. The scheme operated through pop-up ads, emails, and phone calls to lure victims into contacting scam call centers, where conspirators gained remote access to their computers, built trust, and directed them to send money via wire transfers or mail, which was then laundered through cryptocurrency. All five defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering, with potential sentences of decades in prison if convicted.

**Summary:** Since May 2024, Monterey County Sheriff's Office received reports of a phone and online fraud scheme targeting senior citizens, resulting in $97,000 in losses across four incidents. Suspects impersonated FTC or bank employees, instructing victims to withdraw cash ($10,000–$40,000) from multiple bank branches and hand it over to couriers who arrived at their homes; on July 16, 2024, 34-year-old Yang Liu of Alhambra, California was arrested when apprehended collecting money from a victim. Authorities advise seniors to hang up on callers claiming to be from financial institutions or law enforcement, verify contact information through official

This is not relevant to the Elderus database. This article reports on a lottery drawing in Lafayette, California, where an unnamed winner matched five numbers to win $460,362 in the Mega Millions game. This is a legitimate lottery result, not a scam, fraud, or elder abuse incident.

The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael sold their Santa Sabina retreat center to the Hoffman Institute for $11.5 million to address dwindling membership and rising maintenance costs. The Hoffman Institute, which conducts week-long residential courses ($5,350 per person) based on the "Hoffman Quadrinity Process"—a methodology created in 1967 by an untrained Oakland tailor claiming spiritual guidance—will use the 1939-built facility for its transformative adult education programs. The institute made this move after losing its previous California property in the 2020 Glass Fire.

Contra Costa County election officials warned residents of a statewide text message scam requesting voters to verify their registration status through suspicious links. The county clarified that legitimate election offices do not contact voters via unsolicited text messages and directed residents to check registration status only through official county websites or the California Secretary of State's office.

Scammers across California are sending unsolicited text messages to voters claiming they are not registered or need to update their voter information, with non-official links designed to steal personal data. County registrar offices, including Contra Costa County, warn that they never contact voters via text and advise people to verify voter status only through official government websites like voterstatus.sos.ca.gov or their local election office. Concerned voters can contact their county registrar directly to confirm their registration status and avoid falling victim to these election-related scams.

This is a political news article about the 2004 California gubernatorial recall election, not an elder fraud case. The article describes Republican candidate Larry Elder preemptively claiming voter fraud before the election results were known, using unsubstantiated statistical analyses to suggest fraud occurred. This does not involve elder fraud, scams targeting seniors, or elder abuse, so it falls outside the scope of the Elderus database.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office issued a warning about rising online scams targeting elderly residents following multiple incidents in El Grenada, California. One victim lost thousands of dollars after receiving a fake computer hack notification and being convinced to purchase gift cards that couriers collected from their home, while another elderly victim reported a similar scam attempt asking for a large bank withdrawal that they refused. Authorities advise residents never to allow remote computer access to strangers and to hang up and contact law enforcement if asked to withdraw money or purchase gift cards.

GoFundMe and its sister platform Classy have facilitated over $30 billion in donations globally, but the platforms warn users about scams targeting both fundraisers and donors. Common fraud schemes include scammers offering to run campaigns or share them for a fee, fake donation offers requiring transaction fees, phishing emails/texts impersonating GoFundMe, and automated bot accounts offering fraudulent assistance on social media. The company recommends users avoid posting personal details, verify official communications come from gofundme.com email addresses, report suspicious activity to [email protected], and notes that all donations are protected by a year-long money-back guarantee if a campaign

I appreciate you sharing this content, but I'm unable to provide a summary for the Elderus database. The text appears to be a compilation of multiple unrelated legal cases and news headlines covering child welfare, pharmacy practices, employment disputes, music industry matters, and election safeguarding—none of which involve elder fraud, elder abuse, or scams targeting seniors. To assist you effectively, please provide an article that specifically addresses elder fraud, financial exploitation of seniors, or elder abuse incidents.

"Tip baiting" is a practice where customers on delivery apps like Uber Eats offer inflated tips to secure faster service, then reduce or eliminate the tip after delivery is complete. A Texas Uber Eats driver confronted a customer after her $21 tip was reduced to zero on a $143 order, and the issue has become widespread enough that even Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi experienced it while working undercover as a driver in California. In response to these findings, Uber has implemented changes including allowing drivers to view drop-off locations before pickup and distributing hundreds of millions in bonuses to address driver concerns.

Cryptocurrency scams have surged 900 percent since the pandemic began, with over 46,000 Americans losing more than $1 billion to crypto fraud in 2021 alone. Common scams include phishing attacks, Ponzi schemes, fake ICOs, and fraudulent exchanges that exploit crypto's decentralized and hard-to-trace nature. Consumers should exercise caution by only investing what they can afford to lose, verifying information through credible sources, using secure storage methods, and consulting state and federal watchdog organizations like California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI).

Romance scams remain the leading fraud reported to the FTC, with San Diego County alone reporting over $1.3 million in losses in 2023 and nationwide losses exceeding $1.1 billion annually. Scammers, often operating from overseas labor camps, pose as romantic interests and request money for emergencies, investments, or personal situations, using common excuses like illness, military deployment, or business deals. The article advises potential victims to avoid sending money to unmet online contacts, verify photos using reverse image search, and be suspicious of requests to move conversations off dating apps or provide personal information.

Dwayne Anderson, a 35-year-old Jamaican national, was extradited to South Dakota and appeared in court facing eight counts of wire fraud for operating a sweepstakes scam that defrauded a California woman over seven years (2010-2017). Using multiple aliases, Anderson convinced the victim she had won money and collected thousands in fraudulent fees and taxes, even persuading her to travel to Jamaica in 2017 where an additional $1,600 was collected, though she never received any winnings. Anderson faces up to 20 years per count, and the case highlights international law enforcement cooperation in prosecuting transnational elder fraud schemes.

A California financial advisor, Paul Horton Smith, was convicted in January of operating a Ponzi scheme called "Northstar" that defrauded more than $24 million from hundreds of clients over two decades (2000-2020), with the majority of victims being elderly. Smith was barred from working in the financial services industry following his guilty plea. The case demonstrates how long-running investment fraud schemes can operate while targeting vulnerable populations.

Dwayne Anderson, a 35-year-old Jamaican national, was extradited to the United States and charged with eight counts of wire fraud for operating a sweepstakes scam targeting a California woman from 2010 to September 2017. Using false identities, Anderson contacted the victim repeatedly via phone, text, and email claiming she had won millions, convincing her to send thousands in supposed fees and taxes, and ultimately luring her to Jamaica in 2017 with instructions to bring $1,600 in cash—money she never recovered. Anderson faces up to 20 years in prison per count if convicted.

Scammers are using fake QR codes placed over legitimate parking meter codes to redirect drivers to fraudulent payment websites that steal credit card and personal information. In San Clemente and Redondo Beach, California, victims entered their payment details on fake sites mimicking legitimate parking apps, resulting in unauthorized charges detected within minutes. The FTC warns consumers to verify QR code destinations for misspellings, as fake codes can also install malware or direct users to phishing sites designed to harvest personal data.

This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a real estate listing for the house featured in the 1982 film "Poltergeist" in Simi Valley, California, which sold for an undisclosed price after listing for $1.175 million. The property has no relevance to the Elderus database mission.

Mead Johnson reached a $2.17 million settlement with California prosecutors from 12 jurisdictions over allegations that its infant and toddler formula products (sold under brands Enfamil, Nutramigen, and Enfagrow) contained elevated lead levels and lacked required Proposition 65 warnings. The company agreed to reduce lead levels in its products through ingredient sourcing changes and will fund environmental projects to reduce lead in California drinking water, with individual counties receiving $35,416 each for consumer protection actions.

This article is about proposed housing policy legislation, not elder fraud or abuse. It does not involve scams, fraud targeting vulnerable populations, or elder-related crimes. This content falls outside the scope of the Elderus database, which focuses on elder fraud and abuse cases.

California's legislature approved a bill restricting artificial intelligence that would require companies to test AI products for safety before public release and allow the state attorney general to sue companies if AI use causes property damage or death. The measure awaits Governor Newsom's decision, who faces pressure from the tech industry to veto it, though his stance remains unclear. If signed, the bill could establish a national standard for AI regulation.

California's legislature approved SB 278, legislation strengthening protections against elder and dependent adult financial abuse by clarifying banks' and financial institutions' duties to prevent fraud. The bill allows victims to hold financial institutions accountable for negligently assisting fraudulent transfers when they should have detected the abuse. The measure now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom's signature.

California's Senate Bill 278, authored by Sen. Bill Dodd, has passed the Legislature and heads to the governor for consideration to strengthen financial abuse protections for seniors and dependent adults. The legislation would hold banks and credit unions accountable for failing to act when they know or should know that an elder or dependent adult is subject to financial abuse, closing a loophole that currently allows institutions to avoid responsibility by claiming lack of actual knowledge of fraud. Proponents argue the bill represents a historic shift toward preventing senior scams before they occur through common-sense protective measures.

In January, a California financial advisor was convicted and permanently barred from the industry after pleading guilty to operating a fraudulent Ponzi scheme called "Northstar" that defrauded over 300 clients—predominantly elderly—of more than $24 million between 2000 and 2020. Elder fraud is rising nationally, with FBI data showing a 14% increase in reports and 11% increase in losses in 2023, with scams ranging from fake prizes and government impersonation to investment schemes and AI-enabled romance scams costing seniors over $3 billion annually. To protect themselves, seniors should verify financial advisors using free tools like BrokerCheck and the

California's State Senate approved SB 278, legislation that clarifies banks and financial institutions' legal duty to protect elders and dependent adults from financial abuse by holding them accountable when they should have known fraud was occurring but failed to act. The bill aims to incentivize financial institutions to implement fraud prevention safeguards upfront and support victims in suing institutions that negligently assisted in scams, addressing the rising tide of elder financial abuse cases in the state.

A California bill designed to strengthen protections against financial abuse of elders and dependent adults has been sent to Governor Gavin Newsom for signing as of September 2024. The measure aims to enhance legal safeguards and enforcement mechanisms to prevent financial exploitation of vulnerable populations.

According to a SocialCatfish.com study, New Hampshire ranked as the 4th least catfished state with 71 romance scam victims losing $1 million, while California led the nation with $184 million in losses. The article outlines five evolving romance scam tactics to avoid: money mule schemes, fake cryptocurrency investment apps, targeting of teens on TikTok, impersonation of social media influencers, and untraceable gift card requests, providing preventive measures for each type.

Senate Bill 278 (SB 278) was approved by the California Legislature and awaits the Governor's signature to become law, establishing clearer requirements for banks and credit unions to combat elder and dependent adult financial abuse. The bill requires financial institutions to create emergency contact programs and delay transactions of $5,000 or more for at least three business days when an elder or dependent adult is involved, allowing time to verify the transaction's legitimacy and contact an emergency financial contact. This legislation aims to close loopholes in current law that allow financial institutions to avoid accountability by claiming ignorance of fraud, thereby better protecting California's vulnerable populations from increasingly common financial scams.

A Concord, California man lost nearly $200,000 in a sophisticated scam where perpetrators impersonated Xfinity and federal agents, claiming his personal information was used for illegal activities and convincing him to transfer funds to a "secure account" for investigation purposes. The victim made multiple cash and gold withdrawals over several weeks, using couriers (possibly rideshare drivers) to transport the money, until a CVS employee in Huntington Beach refused to release a final $8,500 package sent via UPS, which alerted authorities. Beyond the financial loss, the victim now faces over $30,000 in anticipated taxes from cashing out retirement accounts, creating additional financial har

This article is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud database. It is a general news roundup covering local government, labor appreciation, school construction, California policy updates, and public services—none of which relate to scams, fraud, or elder abuse.

A California man lost nearly $200,000 in a sophisticated impersonation scam where perpetrators posing as Xfinity and Federal Trade Commission agents convinced him his computer had been hacked and used for illegal activities, instructing him to withdraw cash and gold multiple times under the guise of securing his funds. The scam unraveled when a CVS employee in Huntington Beach refused to accept an $8,500 cash package being picked up with fraudulent identification, but the victim was unable to recover that final shipment and now faces an additional $30,000+ in tax liability from the withdrawn retirement accounts. A Concord Police detective noted that the perpetrators' detailed knowledge of the

Scammers in Southern California placed fake QR code stickers on legitimate parking meter signs, with 150 meters affected in Redondo Beach, directing users to fraudulent websites to harvest payment information; ParkMobile and PayByPhone recommend verifying QR codes are part of the original signage rather than stickers, checking that URLs match their official websites (app.parkmobile.io and paybyphone.com), and reporting suspicious codes to local authorities. No cases have been reported yet in Sacramento, though both companies operate parking services throughout California, and a related scam involving fake parking tickets with QR codes has also surfaced in San Francisco and Southern California.

Chester Frilich of Concord, California lost over $200,000 to scammers posing as Xfinity and FTC agents who claimed he was under investigation for wire fraud and convinced him to transfer funds through couriers and UPS. By withdrawing money from Certificate of Deposit and IRA accounts to pay the scammers, Frilich incurred approximately $30,000 in early withdrawal penalties and taxes, which the IRS now threatens to collect through a lien on his home. The article explains how early withdrawals from tax-advantaged accounts can create additional financial liability beyond the fraud itself.

A University of Southern California study of 97 seniors found a correlation between thinning of the entorhinal cortex (a brain region affected by early Alzheimer's disease) and higher vulnerability to financial scams, as measured by the Perceived Financial Exploitation Vulnerability Scale. The research suggests that financial vulnerability assessments could potentially help identify individuals in early stages of cognitive impairment or dementia before symptoms become apparent, though the study only established an association rather than proving causation.

A 2022 lawsuit filed by 96-year-old CSULB philanthropist Regena Cole alleged that California State University, Long Beach and the 49er Foundation committed elder abuse, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation by coercing her into donating $25 million through an agreement signed in 2020. Cole claimed the foundation's former CEO obtained private attorney communications, exploited her memory issues and age, and isolated her from legal counsel to secure the donation, which would operate as a debt against her estate if unpaid during her lifetime. The case reached a tentative settlement in June 2024, though the university and foundation have not confirmed details as the settlement

California experienced a slight 2 percent decline in elder fraud complaints from 2022 to 2023, dropping from 145 to 142 complaints per 100,000 adults aged 60 and older, according to FBI data analyzed by All About Cookies. However, California remains among the top 10 U.S. states for elder fraud complaints per capita, ranking tied for ninth place with Maryland at 142 complaints per 100,000 seniors, while the nationwide rate of elder fraud reports increased 14 percent in 2023 with associated losses rising 11 percent.