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This article is about a college basketball game, not elder fraud or abuse. It describes Old Dominion University's 76-70 loss to Georgia State on Senior Night, where the Monarchs struggled with shooting (34.1% from the field) despite taking 21 more shots than their opponents. The article is not relevant to the Elderus database, which focuses on scams, fraud, and elder abuse.

Senator Ossoff urged the Trump Administration's FTC Chairman to increase protections for Georgia's 1.2 million seniors from financial scams. Georgia ranked among the top five states for senior fraud in 2023, with reported losses to Georgia seniors surging from $25 million in 2020 to $92 million in 2023, according to FBI data.

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.

The Bibb County Sheriff's Office and Better Business Bureau outline three prevalent scams: debt collection scams where fraudsters impersonate creditors or government agencies threatening legal action or arrest, advanced loan fee scams involving fake loan processors requesting payment with urgency, and road toll collection scams using text messages with malicious links to steal personal information. To protect yourself, hang up on suspicious calls, request written debt validation, contact companies directly using official numbers, avoid clicking links from unsolicited messages, and verify claims through official websites or customer service lines.

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.

Alina Ciurar, 33, was arrested after conning a 77-year-old woman out of $760.62 at a Walmart self-checkout in Snellville, Georgia by falsely claiming she needed help buying baby supplies for $40, then physically guiding the victim's arm to complete a much larger payment while blocking her view. Two days later, Ciurar allegedly returned most of the items to another Walmart for approximately $500 in cash, and was apprehended when caught attempting to approach another senior citizen at a store. The scheme was uncovered through surveillance footage and bank statements, and Ciurar now faces felony elder exploitation and fraud charges

Andrew Hood, a former caregiver at Charter Senior Living in Cobb County, Georgia, was accused of stealing four credit cards from an 81-year-old resident and using them to make unauthorized purchases including a Six Flags season pass, gas, and food in 2024. Hood faces nearly 20 felony charges, with the arrest warrant issued recently after a multi-month investigation involving multiple businesses. The case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals to fraud by trusted caregivers, with law enforcement emphasizing the importance of public awareness about elder fraud.

A leak of 1 million audio files from Georgian scam call centers exposed sophisticated cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes that defrauded victims of £9 million combined through "authorised push payment" (APP) fraud, which tricks people into voluntarily sending money from their bank accounts. In the first half of 2024, investment scammers cheated Britons out of at least £56 million, accounting for a quarter of the £214 million lost to APP fraud despite representing only 4% of cases. As of October 7, 2024, new UK regulatory rules now mandate banks refund victims up to £85,000 within five days for domestic transfers, significantly improving reimburs

An organized Georgian call center network scammed approximately 6,000 people across the UK, Europe, and Canada out of $35 million (£27 million) between May 2022 and 2023 using deepfake videos and fake celebrity endorsements featuring Martin Lewis, Zoe Ball, and Ben Fogle to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency and investment schemes. UK victims were disproportionately affected, accounting for about £9 million in losses, with some individuals defrauded of over £160,000 after spending hundreds of hours on calls with scammers. The fraud was exposed through a leaked dataset of over 1 million call recordings that revealed how the approximately

A massive data leak exposed an international crypto scam operation with call centers in Georgia, Israel, Spain, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Bulgaria that defrauded at least 32,000 victims of over $275 million USD. The scammers used fake news articles on social media featuring celebrities like Kevin O'Leary and Elon Musk to lure victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, then deployed "recovery scammers" (using stolen identities) to extract additional payments from desperate victims—including a Canadian factory foreman who lost $200,000 and was later targeted for an additional $3,500. The leaked internal records, including over one million call recordings and 20,

A call centre operation based in Tbilisi, Georgia defrauded victims of $35 million by using fake social media advertisements and news articles featuring celebrity endorsements (including radio DJ Zoe Ball and adventurer Ben Fogle) to promote non-existent cryptocurrency trading platforms promising AI-driven profits. Victims were directed to fraudulent platforms on Facebook and Google where no actual trading occurred, making this a classic advance-fee or investment fraud scheme targeting savers.

In 2024, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's Consumer Protection Division secured nearly $80 million for Georgia taxpayers and consumers combined, including $3.3 million in restitution for nearly 500 older and disabled adults who were defrauded into purchasing unproven stem cell products. The division assisted over 26,755 consumers and conducted extensive education and outreach efforts, reaching more than 980,000 people through speaking engagements, webinars, and educational resources to help Georgians recognize and avoid scams and fraud.

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In 2024, scams extracted a record $12.5 billion from consumers—a 25% increase from 2023—despite the number of scam reports remaining relatively flat, according to the Better Business Bureau citing FTC data. The BBB highlighted two prevalent scams: cryptocurrency investment scams involving unknown coins and promises of guaranteed returns, and imposter scams where fraudsters pose as government agencies demanding immediate payment via gift cards or crypto while threatening arrest. Consumers should verify agency contact information independently, watch for ".gov" or ".mil" email addresses, and be wary of urgent demands, threats, and requests for unusual payment methods or wallet access.

A South Carolina man, Bhargav Patel, was arrested in Jones County, Georgia after attempting to defraud an elderly couple of their life savings through a courier scam, in which he convinced them their bank deposits were unsafe and arranged to pick up their withdrawn money for "safekeeping." The couple's family intervened before the theft was completed, obtained the suspect's license plate, and authorities tracked and arrested Patel, charging him with exploitation of the elderly and two counts of criminal attempt to commit theft. The sheriff's office emphasized that such fraud cases are among the highest-volume crimes they handle and advised residents to be cautious of unsolicited calls, especially from those impersonating government agencies

A Georgia man was jailed for allegedly impersonating a police officer ("Sergeant Harding") to scam a registered sex offender in Pennsylvania out of $1,000 in August 2022, claiming he could make a fake warrant disappear if the victim purchased gift cards and paid cash. Law enforcement agencies nationwide report that scammers intermittently target people on sex offender registries with similar police impersonation schemes, though the scams are difficult to track and prevalence varies by jurisdiction. In 2023, American adults lost over $25.4 billion to telephone-based scams overall, with young adults aged 18-44 being three times more likely than older adults to

Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Georgia man, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims across Missouri, New Jersey, and Minnesota between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi and co-conspirators used social media to build fake relationships with victims and convince them to send money for various pretexts, with one victim losing over $27,400; he was ordered to pay $311,500 in restitution. The investigation involved multiple federal agencies and resulted in charges for money laundering conspiracy.

Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Georgia man, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey of approximately $311,520 between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi received wire transfers from victims who were deceived by scammers posing as individuals like "Kevin Condon," who fabricated stories about business expenses, medical issues, and legal problems to solicit money. The court ordered Obafemi to pay full restitution and serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.

Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Georgia man, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in an online romance scam targeting elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi conspired to receive fraudulent wire transfers totaling $311,520 by coordinating bank accounts and fund transfers, with one victim in Missouri alone losing $27,460 after being deceived by someone claiming to be "Kevin Condon" seeking money for overseas business and medical expenses. He was ordered to pay full restitution to his victims and serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.

Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Georgia man, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in romance scams that defrauded elderly victims across Missouri, New Jersey, and Minnesota between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi used social media to establish fake romantic relationships with victims, convincing them to send money for various expenses, and coordinated the receipt and transfer of stolen funds through multiple bank accounts; he was ordered to pay over $311,500 in restitution to his victims. The scheme targeted at least one victim in Missouri who lost more than $27,400 to a scammer posing as "Kevin Condon

A Georgia man, Badetito O. Obafemi, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims across multiple states, including a Taney County, Missouri resident who lost $27,460. Obafemi conspired with scammers who posed as romantic interests online, requesting money for various expenses, and received the stolen funds through personal and business bank accounts he controlled. He was ordered to pay $311,520 in total restitution to all victims across Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey.

Badetito O. Obafemi, 42, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey of approximately $311,520 between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi and co-conspirators posed as individuals like "Kevin Condon" online to build relationships with victims and convince them to send money for various expenses, with Obafemi receiving the fraudulent wire transfers through personal and business bank accounts he controlled. The court ordered Obafemi to pay full restitution to victims and serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.

Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in a transnational romance scam that defrauded elderly victims across Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was ordered to pay $311,520 in restitution; one victim alone lost $27,460 after being lured through a fake Facebook identity. The scam involved establishing fake online relationships and soliciting funds under false pretenses such as business investments and medical emergencies, with Obafemi laundering proceeds through two Georgia

Badetito O. Obafemi, a 42-year-old Nigerian national, was convicted and sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role in an online romance scam that defrauded elderly victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey between 2016 and 2018. Obafemi pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was ordered to pay $311,520 in restitution; he received funds from victims through personal and business accounts while scammers posed as romantic interests requesting money for business, medical, travel, and other expenses. The Taney County victim alone lost $27,460, with scammers attempting to solicit an additional

Cybersecurity researcher David Maimon discovered scammers selling access to Social Security accounts online, with the goal of taking over victims' benefit payments by changing account details and redirecting funds to fraudulent accounts. Scammers gain access through stolen login credentials and phishing attempts, and the Social Security Administration is implementing new in-person identity verification requirements (as of April 14) to combat the fraud. To protect accounts, beneficiaries should regularly monitor their "my Social Security" accounts, avoid clicking suspicious links, enable two-factor authentication, and never provide cash or personal information to unsolicited callers claiming to be law enforcement.

Scammers are stealing Social Security account credentials through phishing attacks and selling full access on the dark web, then rerouting benefit payments to fraudulent accounts—with the SSA reporting cases involving monthly benefits of $1,855 or more being diverted. The Social Security Administration is implementing new in-person identity verification requirements starting April 2025, though this faces criticism due to concurrent staffing cuts of nearly 12%. Protection strategies include enabling two-factor authentication, regularly monitoring accounts, avoiding phishing links, freezing credit, and reporting suspected fraud to the SSA Office of the Inspector General.

JPMorgan Chase is pursuing additional lawsuits against customers who exploited an "infinite money glitch" discovered in August 2024, which allowed users to deposit fraudulent checks via ATM and withdraw funds before the checks bounced. The bank has filed suits in Georgia, Florida, New York, and Texas against individuals accused of stealing amounts up to $75,000 each, and has sent demand letters to over 1,000 customers since October 2024, with a representative stating the bank will pursue cases "for as long as it takes to hold fraudsters accountable."

Asian crime syndicates operating multibillion-dollar cyberscam networks have expanded globally to South America and Africa despite intensified Southeast Asian raids, with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime reporting the industry generates tens of billions in annual profits by victimizing people worldwide through schemes like romance and cryptocurrency scams. Many scam workers are trafficked and forced into operations, and criminal groups have adapted by relocating to remote areas with weak governance in Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and now Georgia, Zambia, Angola, and Namibia. The U.S. alone reported $5.6 billion in cryptocurrency scam losses in 2023, with elderly and vulnerable people particularly

Briauna Michelle Powell, a home health assistant in Suwanee, Georgia, is wanted for identity fraud and elder exploitation after using an 82-year-old client's credit cards and bank account without authorization. Between February and March, Powell made unauthorized charges totaling at least $1,120 on the victim's Lowe's card for personal items and attempted six unauthorized bank transactions, while also attempting to open an account in the victim's name. Powell has been charged with multiple counts of identity fraud and elder exploitation, and detectives are asking anyone who employed her to report suspected fraudulent activity.

A 24-year-old in-home caregiver, Briauna Michelle Powell of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was arrested and charged with 22 felony counts of identity fraud and elder exploitation after stealing approximately $20,000 from at least four elderly victims. Powell, who worked in victims' homes assisting with household tasks, used stolen checks and fraudulent credit card charges, with victims unaware of the theft until discovered by a power of attorney holder. Police believe additional victims may exist and are asking anyone who employed Powell as a caregiver to contact the Suwanee Police Department.

Briauna Powell, a 24-year-old home health aide for Visiting Angels, was arrested and charged with identity theft, fraud, and elder exploitation after using elderly clients' personal and financial information to make unauthorized purchases totaling approximately $25,000, including a $16,000 vehicle, rent payments, and store purchases. Police confirmed she victimized at least four elderly residents across multiple Georgia counties and believe additional victims may exist. Powell is being held without bond, and authorities are urging anyone who employed her to check for fraudulent activity.

Vickie Long of Ringgold, Georgia pleaded guilty to exploiting her elderly mother through an elaborate scheme involving false cancer diagnoses and fake treatment costs, ultimately defrauding her mother of approximately $200,000. After Adult Protective Services intervened, Long escalated her crimes by stealing directly from her mother's checking and savings accounts, causing her victim to lose her home. Long received a 30-year sentence with 15 years to serve in jail, having spent most of the stolen funds on fentanyl.

Georgia has implemented new fraud training requirements for police officers to identify fraud, abuse, and neglect of older adults and people with disabilities, with legislation requiring specialized dementia training for first responders. Georgia residents age 60 and over reported losing more than $92 million to fraud in 2023, up from $33.5 million in 2021, with over one-third of the state's 28,546 abuse reports in 2024 involving financial exploitation. These initiatives represent increased collaboration among law enforcement, advocates, and government agencies to protect Georgia's growing elderly population, which is projected to comprise more than 1 in 5 residents by 2030.

An elderly Johns Creek, Georgia woman lost $47,000 in a scam that began with a pop-up message while she was doing an online crossword puzzle. Scammers used spoofed caller IDs to impersonate Bank of America employees and police officers, convincing her to transfer funds to a Bitcoin machine for "account protection" and attempting to extract an additional $10,000. Police advise residents to avoid sending money to unknown sources and to call 911 if targeted, emphasizing that scammers exploit fear and urgency.

Two Georgia residents lost over $20,000 to phone scams in April 2024: a 50-year-old man paid $2,000 in cryptocurrency after a caller impersonating a sheriff's deputy claimed he had an arrest warrant, while a 62-year-old man lost $12,000 (later reimbursed) plus an additional $7,550 in unauthorized charges after providing debit card information to someone posing as a bank official. The Oconee County Sheriff's Office warned the public that law enforcement never demands payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or money transfer services to avoid arrest.

Allen Brown, 41, of Augusta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for operating a "ghost" tax preparation business in 2022-2023 that falsified 63 federal income tax returns, resulting in $1,003,631 in fraudulent refunds to clients. Brown and his associates fabricated income and deductions without clients' knowledge, offered tiered fraud schemes ("Standard" and "I'm Not Scared" options yielding $2,000-$30,000 in false refunds), and charged clients 10% fees while withholding copies of filed returns. Brown faces up to 20 years in prison, supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties upon

Georgia Department of Driver Services warned residents about a text message scam in which criminals impersonate the nonexistent "Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles" and direct recipients to fraudulent websites to pay fake traffic tickets and surrender driver's license information. DDS emphasized that it never contacts customers via text to request payment or confidential information and instead notifies customers of license changes in writing; residents should delete such messages immediately and verify information through the official DDS website.

Scammers are targeting Georgia drivers with threatening text messages impersonating the "Georgia State Department of Motor Vehicles," claiming recipients have outstanding traffic tickets that must be paid immediately to avoid license suspension or prosecution, with links leading to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and driver's license information. The Georgia Department of Driver Services clarified that they never contact customers via text to request payment or confidential information, and notes that the "Department of Motor Vehicles" does not exist in Georgia—a key red flag that such messages are fraudulent. Residents are advised to delete such messages immediately and verify ticket or license status through the official DDS website at dds.georgia.gov.

During May 2025's Older Americans Month, Georgia's Attorney General Consumer Protection Division reached over 1,300 seniors to educate them on recognizing, preventing, and reporting financial abuse and exploitation. The division highlighted common scams targeting older adults—including government imposter schemes, investment/cryptocurrency fraud, and romance scams—and provided resources such as their free "Georgia Consumer Protection Guide for Older Adults" (available in English, Spanish, and Korean) along with reporting contacts for suspected financial abuse.

Christie Edwards, a 47-year-old Florida bookkeeper, was indicted in Glynn County, Georgia on charges of Racketeering and Theft by Taking for allegedly stealing over $380,000 from an elderly client through fraudulent ATM withdrawals, point-of-sale transactions, checks, and credit card payments while employed at a local accounting firm. The case was investigated by the Attorney General's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit and highlights the vulnerability of seniors to financial exploitation by trusted individuals with direct access to their finances.

Christie Edwards, a 47-year-old bookkeeper at a Glynn County accounting firm, was indicted for stealing over $380,000 from an elderly client through fraudulent ATM withdrawals, point-of-sale transactions, checks, and credit card payments. The case highlights the vulnerability of seniors to financial exploitation by trusted individuals with access to their accounts, and Georgia's Attorney General urged families to establish oversight systems and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Scammers in Wisconsin are impersonating the Wisconsin Department of Transportation DMV by sending text messages claiming unpaid traffic violations or final notices, attempting to trick recipients into revealing personal information or clicking malicious links. The Wisconsin DMV received a large volume of complaints on June 2 and noted similar scams had recently targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. The DMV advises residents not to respond to unsolicited texts, avoid clicking links, and warns to be suspicious of communications requesting money or creating urgency.

Nirav Patel was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in an imposter scam that defrauded multiple elderly victims across the Midwest of thousands of dollars in life savings. Patel, operating from Chicago, would collect money and gold from victims after scammers impersonating federal agents threatened them with identity theft and legal consequences, sometimes calling up to 12 times daily; the collected funds were then sent to accounts in India. In 2024, gold bar schemes similar to this operation stole $219 million nationally, making imposter scams the most common type of criminal scheme as of March 2025.

A text message scam is targeting Georgia drivers, with fraudulent messages falsely claiming to be from the "Georgia State Department of Motor Vehicles" and demanding gift card or cryptocurrency payments for alleged outstanding traffic tickets under threat of license suspension. Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman warns that legitimate traffic ticket payments are only accepted as cash, cashier's checks, or money orders to the court clerk, and advises recipients to avoid clicking links or calling numbers in suspicious messages, instead contacting their local law enforcement or checking the Georgia Department of Driver Services website directly.

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

State Departments of Transportation in Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin issued warnings about phishing text scams impersonating state agencies and demanding payment for unpaid tolls or traffic violations, with threats of legal action. The scams have already targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York, and are becoming more sophisticated by using fear tactics to trick victims into clicking malicious links or sharing personal information. State agencies advise recipients to ignore urgency demands, avoid clicking links or sharing information, block senders, and report scams to the FTC or Internet Crime Complaint Center.

A retired Georgia couple lost nearly $800,000 in a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam after a stranger contacted Jerry Dunaway on WhatsApp and directed him to a fraudulent trading app that displayed fake returns through an AI-generated "ghost site." The scammers built trust by allowing small initial withdrawals before preventing access to the account, leaving the couple financially devastated and unlikely to recover their funds according to police investigators.

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

Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to address a widespread text message scam targeting Minnesotans, in which fake DMV messages claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threaten arrest to coerce online payments. The scam has been reported across multiple states including Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, and Smith has requested intervention from the Department of Justice to combat the scheme's scale and sophistication.

This article announces the opening of AtWork West Gwinnett, a staffing franchise location in Duluth, Georgia, owned by Wendy Smith and her husband Jeremy. The piece is not related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse—it is a business announcement about a job placement staffing company and does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database.