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A 30-year-old man was arrested in Canton, Michigan, after attempting to defraud an 84-year-old woman by posing as a bank fraud officer and convincing her to withdraw $25,000 in cash over four days. Police apprehended the suspect when he arrived at the victim's home to collect the money on December 17, preventing the theft. The suspect, identified as Li Biao, a Chinese national illegally in the United States, was charged with fraudulent false pretenses and assaulting/resisting police, held on a $100,000 cash bond.

A 30-year-old man was arrested in Canton, Michigan in December after attempting to defraud an 84-year-old woman through an impersonation scam. The suspect posed as a bank fraud officer and convinced the elderly victim to withdraw between $20,000-$50,000 over four days for two pickups, but was caught during a third attempted pickup after the victim's family discovered the suspicious activity. He was charged with fraudulent false pretenses and assaulting a police officer, with bond set at $100,000 cash.

An 84-year-old Canton, Michigan woman was targeted by a phone scam in December 2024 in which a caller impersonated a bank "senior fraud officer" and instructed her to withdraw cash for a supposed security purpose; the scheme succeeded twice before family members detected suspicious bank activity and alerted police. Li Biao, a 30-year-old undocumented Chinese national, was arrested on December 17, 2024, when he arrived at the victim's home to collect $25,000 in cash, and was charged with fraudulent false pretenses and resisting police. Police emphasized the importance of monitoring elderly relatives for warning signs such as sudden financial changes, large

This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It describes a planned road construction project involving utility relocation and traffic detours in Traverse City, Michigan—not elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. No summarization is needed for this content.

This is an informational resource page from the Michigan Department of Attorney General detailing senior protection services. The Health Care Fraud Division investigates fraudulent activity by health care providers in the Medicaid program, including misappropriation of patient trust funds and identity theft in care facilities, while the Elder Abuse Task Force works to prevent financial exploitation of nursing home residents. The page provides contact information for multiple state agencies and resources available to report fraud and abuse or seek assistance.

This is not an article about fraud or elder abuse. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a consumer alert reminding shoppers to review store return policies before purchasing or returning holiday gifts, noting that policies vary by retailer and typically have time limits. The alert advises consumers to check return policies in-store or online before making trips, keep documentation, and escalate to managers or dispute charges with credit card companies if returns are wrongfully refused.

Matthew Ramos-Soto, a 27-year-old from Connecticut, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role in a multi-state grandparent scam targeting elderly victims. Operating as a courier posing as a bail bondsman, Ramos-Soto collected over $250,000 from victims across the United States between October 2022 and June 2023, as part of a larger fraud network that contacted elderly people claiming their relatives had been arrested and needed bail money. The scheme, which operated across multiple states including Wisconsin, Michigan, Vermont, Rhode Island, and California, resulted in restitution being ordered and prompted federal authorities to emphasize the importance of

A "brushing scam" is targeting victims across multiple states, including Michigan, involving unsolicited Amazon packages sent to recipients' addresses. The packages contain QR codes that, when scanned, direct victims to malicious websites designed to steal personal information; police advise recipients to safely discard such packages without scanning any codes.

Matthew Ramos-Soto, a 27-year-old Hartford man, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for participating in a wire fraud scheme targeting elderly victims nationwide. Operating as a fake bail bondsman between October 2022 and June 2023, Ramos-Soto and his network collected over $250,000 from victims in Wisconsin alone by posing as relatives or attorneys and claiming arrestees needed bail money; he picked up funds from victims at 18 locations across the country before his arrest in Michigan. The scheme involved international scammers calling elderly targets with false arrest scenarios while Ramos-Soto and other couriers collected the money in person, an

Matthew Ramos-Soto, 27, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role as a courier in a grandparent scam wire fraud scheme targeting elderly victims across the United States. Between October 2022 and June 2023, Ramos-Soto and co-conspirators picked up over $250,000 in cash from victims by posing as bail bondsmen, claiming their relatives had been arrested in accidents; he personally collected money from victims at 18 different locations before his arrest in Michigan in June 2023. The case resulted in federal charges filed across multiple districts, with authorities encouraging victims and witnesses to report fraud to the National Elder

Police across multiple states, including Michigan, are warning residents about "brushing scams" in which unsolicited packages containing items like bracelets, necklaces, or speakers arrive at homes with QR codes inside. Scanning these QR codes transmits personal information from the recipient's phone—including banking data and other sensitive details—directly to scammers, compromising the device. Authorities advise residents not to scan QR codes found in unfamiliar packages or from unknown sources.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned consumers about AI-enabled scams during the holiday season, specifically targeting voice cloning fraud where scammers impersonate loved ones in distress to demand money through untraceable payment methods. Nessel recommends establishing family verification phrases, not trusting caller ID, verifying suspicious calls through known numbers, and being wary of unusual payment requests. Victims should report incidents to local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission (877-382-4357), their bank, or the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team (877-765-8388).

Multiple financial scams targeting older adults in Portage, Michigan involved callers impersonating family members claiming distress, posing as tech support or bank representatives, and using couriers to collect cash payments. The Portage Department of Public Safety is investigating the incidents and asking anyone with information to contact local authorities.

The Michigan Lottery warned residents of ongoing scams in which fraudsters either impersonate lottery officials claiming the victim has won and demand fees to collect the prize, or claim to have won themselves and offer to share winnings if the victim sends money first. Scammers request payment via cashier's check, electronic transfer, or cash, and may contact victims repeatedly for additional "fees" or "processing costs." Michigan Lottery officials emphasized that legitimate lottery prizes require no fees to claim and that anyone unsolicited claiming you've won is attempting fraud.

**Summary:** David White, 67, of Union City, Michigan, was convicted of criminal enterprise, embezzlement, and tax evasion for stealing at least $400,000 from the John Stirling White Trust between 2014 and 2019, which he controlled as co-trustee after his father's death. White prevented distribution of trust assets to beneficiaries and concealed his misappropriation by refusing to produce financial records until he was removed as trustee in 2019. He faces sentencing on January 23, 2025, on charges including two felony counts of embezzlement exceeding $50,000 and six counts of tax evasion.

WSMV4 Investigates documented a multi-city funeral scam in which solicitors hold signs featuring photos of children who allegedly died, requesting money for funeral expenses. The investigation found the same gray 2007 KIA van with an Arizona temporary tag being used in both Nashville, Tennessee and Grand Rapids, Michigan, with solicitors becoming hostile and aggressive when confronted, and police indicated those involved could be charged with theft by fraudulent means.

A University of Michigan study found that seniors experiencing undiagnosed memory decline lost an average of $31,000 over two years due to poor investment decisions and susceptibility to scams, while those aware of their cognitive decline limited losses to about $5,400 by delegating financial decisions to trusted advisors. Over 60% of Americans age 50 and older experienced some memory decline, but only 20% of those with significant loss were aware of it, making them vulnerable to risky financial choices and fraud schemes that cost older adults more than $36 billion annually. The article advises seniors to seek professional help if experiencing memory issues, involve trusted family members or financial advisors in financial decisions, an

Yulonda Eckel, 56, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining two Paycheck Protection Program loans by falsely claiming to be a sole proprietor with $104,900 in annual business income. Eckel agreed to pay $47,660 in restitution, of which $25,827 was paid upfront, and faces sentencing on January 16, 2025.

Monroe County authorities are warning residents about a rising wave of cryptocurrency scams delivered via email, text, and phone calls that impersonate government agencies, lottery services, tech support, and romance schemes to trick victims into sending money or personal information. Michiganders lost nearly $80 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with one Northville Township resident defrauded of approximately $300,000. Authorities emphasize that legitimate government agencies never demand payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards and always offer cash payment options in person.

An elderly man from Elba Township, Michigan was nearly defrauded of $24,500 in October after receiving a fake email about a Bitcoin purchase and being instructed to withdraw cash to "repay" funds. The Lapeer County Sheriff's Office successfully recovered the full amount after the victim's daughter memorized the scammer's license plate and the bank manager reported suspicious activity, leading to the suspect's vehicle being located in Detroit. The case remains under investigation, and authorities remind residents to be cautious of unsolicited communications.

This article does not contain information about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse, so it is not suitable for the Elderus database. The article concerns a criminal threat case involving a Michigan prisoner charged with threatening Governor Whitmer, which falls outside the scope of elder fraud research.

This article warns about a vacant land scam affecting prospective property buyers in Marquette, Michigan. A local realtor discusses how the scam operates and provides protective measures for consumers interested in purchasing vacant land.

A West Michigan mother received a voice cloning scam call claiming her daughter was kidnapped and demanding $50,000 in ransom. After her husband contacted dispatch, they verified their daughter was safe at her apartment. The Better Business Bureau identified the scam as voice cloning, and the mother is now warning others about this fraud tactic.

Everette Jhamal Thibou, 32, of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced to 168 months in prison as the sixth defendant in an international fraud scheme that defrauded 50 elderly victims of $11 million across West Michigan and the country. The scam used fake virus warnings and impersonations of tech companies and federal agents to trick victims into sending cash, wire transfers, and gift cards through various methods. Thibou and five other U.S.-based defendants collected fraud proceeds on behalf of scammers located in India, with a seventh defendant still at large.

This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a statement from Michigan's Attorney General regarding a non-citizen voting allegation in the 2024 election. This falls outside the scope of Elderus, which focuses on fraud and abuse targeting elderly individuals.

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.

This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It reports on a voter fraud case where a 56-year-old Michigan woman was bound over for trial for allegedly voting twice in the 2024 August Primary Election—once by absentee ballot and once in person. The case is a criminal matter involving election integrity rather than fraud targeting vulnerable populations.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit against Donald Peltier of Massachusetts for operating fraudulent political websites using names like "democraticnationalcommittee.co" and "republicannationalcommittee.org" to solicit donations from the public. The case highlights the need for donors to verify organizations through the Federal Election Commission database, avoid unsolicited fundraising requests, and be especially cautious of scams targeting seniors.

Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages claiming recipients are not registered to vote, directing them to fake websites like all-vote.com and votewin.org to harvest personal information including names, addresses, emails, dates of birth, and phone numbers. Election officials in Michigan and Pennsylvania warned voters to be cautious of these messages, which can be identified as scams by their unsolicited nature, suspicious domains, requests for unnecessary personal data, and grammatical errors. To verify voter registration safely, Americans should use the official government website vote.gov rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.

Dr. Rainna Furnari Brazil, 57, a Michigan osteopathic physician, pleaded guilty to eight felony counts of insurance fraud after collecting over $400,000 in disability payments from Unum Life Insurance Company between 2017 and 2021 while continuing to work as a practicing physician. Brazil agreed to pay $458,962 in restitution, with her sentencing reduced from multiple felony charges to potentially one charge if she pays the full amount during an 11-month delayed sentence period.

Michigan residents lost approximately $80 million to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, with scammers impersonating government agencies and demanding payment via bitcoin or gift cards for fines and tickets. Michigan State Police and local law enforcement agencies warned residents that legitimate government agencies never request payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards, and advised victims to contact the actual agency directly if contacted by such scammers. One Northville Township resident was defrauded of roughly $300,000 in a similar scheme.

Michigan has over 73,000 older adult victims of elder abuse annually, experiencing scams, fraud, theft, and exploitation that cause serious physical and psychological harm. The Michigan Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee unanimously advanced four bills (SB 922-925) designed to strengthen protections for vulnerable adults by enhancing penalties for abuse and financial exploitation, creating personal protection orders for seniors, extending prosecutions beyond victims' deaths, and establishing multidisciplinary teams to prevent and investigate elder abuse.

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The cybercriminal group "Vanilla Tempest" (also known as Vice Society) has shifted to using INC Ransom malware to attack U.S. healthcare organizations, marking their sixth malware variant since 2022 in what Microsoft assesses is an effort to evade detection and increase extortion success. The group, which has primarily targeted educational institutions since July 2022, also attacks hospitals and local governments using tactics including PowerShell scripts, legitimate tools, and publicly disclosed vulnerability exploits for initial access. A notable August 2024 attack claimed by INC Ransom affiliates hit McLaren Health Care in Michigan, causing several weeks of IT disruption before recovery.

Alex Ambrose, a 27-year-old manager at Mission Point Nursing & Physical Rehabilitation Center in Warren, Michigan, was charged with embezzling over $7,000 from eight vulnerable nursing home residents between September 2023 and January 2024. Ambrose allegedly deposited residents' checks totaling $7,792 into his personal accounts and faces four felony counts and five misdemeanor counts of embezzlement from vulnerable adults. He was released on a $20,000 bond pending preliminary examination scheduled for October 10, 2024.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned seniors at a Southfield Senior Summit about "pig butchering" scams and other fraud targeting older adults. Pig butchering is a romance scam variant where criminals build trust with victims online over days or weeks before soliciting money for emergencies or investment opportunities, with victims sometimes losing their life savings. Nessel identified three common scam tactics: creating urgency, obtaining personal information, and requesting money, and advised seniors to verify the identity of callers and warn loved ones about suspicious online relationships with distant strangers.

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office conducted outreach at a Senior Expo to educate seniors about common scams including identity theft, telemarketing fraud, internet scams, home improvement fraud, and caregiver fraud. Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido distributed "S.C.A.M.S." (Stopping Crimes Against Macomb Seniors) booklets and offers presentations to community groups to help seniors protect themselves from fraud. The office has scheduled another free Senior Expo for October 17, 2024, in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel met with over 70 senior citizens in Cadillac to educate them about emerging scams, including phishing, smishing, identity theft, grandparent scams, and "pig butchering" scams—a long-term fraud where perpetrators build false relationships with victims via social apps before stealing money or personal information. Nessel highlighted how artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by scammers to create personalized, convincing fraud schemes, including deepfake audio and video to impersonate family members, and directed residents to the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection website for scam information and alerts.

Richard Filbey, 62, of Ontonagon, Michigan, pleaded guilty to embezzling over $100,000 from an 86-year-old vulnerable adult while serving as her power of attorney, misappropriating two annuities totaling approximately $280,896 and proceeds from a property sale for his personal use without reporting the income on his tax returns. As part of his plea agreement, Filbey agreed to pay more than $280,000 in restitution, and the sale of three property parcels he transferred to the victim's estate will be overseen by probate court to satisfy the restitution order.

Art dealer Wendy Halsted Beard was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for defrauding 43 elderly collectors of approximately $1.6 million through a fine art photography consignment scheme at her Birmingham, Michigan gallery between 2017 and 2022. Beard sold consigned artworks without paying owners their share of proceeds, failed to deliver works to buyers after payment, and returned counterfeit pieces when victims demanded returns—including an original Ansel Adams photograph valued at $625,000 that she sold for $440,000 and kept the difference. A judge ordered Beard to pay over $2 million in restitution, with investigators unable to

Yulonda Eckel, 56, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, was bound over for trial on charges of fraudulently obtaining two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $41,000 by falsely claiming to operate a sole proprietorship with $108,121 in annual income. She faces two counts of False Pretenses ($20,000-$50,000), two counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, and one count of Making/Permitting a False Tax Return, with the investigation conducted by the Michigan Attorney General's office in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.

Michigan residents are being warned about three Amazon Prime Day scams: fake text messages impersonating Amazon to steal personal information, phishing messages falsely claiming Prime membership cancellation requiring payment, and account suspension scams using fraudulent links to compromise account access. Experts advise verifying any Amazon communications directly through the official app or website and never sharing personal details via unsolicited texts or calls.

Lake Michigan College graduated 14 recruits from its first Police Academy in 42 years on August 28, 2024, addressing anticipated law enforcement shortages in the region where an estimated 130 retirements are expected in Berrien County alone over the next five years. The 16-week program, approved by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, provided 615 hours of comprehensive training in emergency vehicle operations, firearms, patrol procedures, and crime scene investigation, with support from nearly 60 local law enforcement and prosecution experts. The academy will operate annually each summer on the Benton Harbor campus, with state grant funding available to help municipalities cover tuition and recruit salaries during training

Three men—two from Cleveland and one from Michigan—were indicted for stealing $30,000 from a Washington County senior citizen through an overpayment scam in July, where they posed as PayPal representatives and convinced the victim to provide a refund. The suspects are also linked to a similar $30,000 theft in Franklin County, and investigators indicate there are additional victims throughout the Great Lakes region. Law enforcement advises seniors to verify requests for money or gift cards by contacting family, friends, or local authorities before complying.

The Ohio Turnpike warns of a resurgence of "smishing" scams where fraudsters impersonate toll authorities via text messages to collect payment for fake unpaid tolls and obtain personal financial information. The scam, first identified in April 2024, targets drivers across Ohio and Michigan with fake text links to fraudulent payment websites; the Ohio Turnpike clarifies it never requests payment by text and only uses ezpassoh.com and ohioturnpike.org for legitimate transactions. Consumers are advised to avoid clicking unknown links or replying to suspicious texts, report scams to the FBI's IC3, and verify toll accounts through official websites and customer service numbers.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned residents about smishing text scams impersonating SunPass, Florida's toll collection system, which falsely demand payment of unpaid tolls with $50 late fees and contain links designed to steal personal and financial information. The scams typically feature red flags such as unsolicited messages from unusually long phone numbers, shortened links, urgent language, and requests for personal data. Authorities recommend forwarding suspicious texts to SPAM (7726), reporting them to the Federal Trade Commission, and using phone spam filters.

Two New York men were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a multi-state tech support scam that defrauded elderly victims of over $11 million. Jayesh Panchal (78 months) and Vijaya Shetty (63 months) convinced seniors their bank accounts were compromised, then coerced them to withdraw cash and hand it over to fake federal agents; one Michigan victim alone lost $398,000. Both defendants were ordered to pay substantial restitution and the case underscores the widespread threat of elder fraud targeting vulnerable seniors.

Two New York residents were sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a large-scale tech support scam that defrauded elderly victims of over $11 million across multiple states. Jayesh J. Panchal (78 months) and Vijaya C. Shetty (63 months) worked with India-based scammers who used fake computer virus warnings to trick seniors into sending money via wire transfers, gift cards, and in-person meetings; one Michigan victim alone lost $398,000 after being deceived into believing she was protecting her accounts with federal agents. Both defendants were ordered to pay substantial restitution to their victims.

Two men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an international fraud conspiracy that stole over $11 million from elderly victims across multiple states, with one West Michigan victim losing $398,000. Jayesh Panchal received 78 months and was ordered to pay $7,930,287 in restitution, while Vijaya Shetty received 63 months and was ordered to pay $596,800 in restitution. The scam used fake tech support pop-up warnings and impersonation of Microsoft, Apple, and federal agents to convince seniors to withdraw cash, make wire transfers, or purchase gift cards, claiming their accounts were compromised or they were involved in

Two men, Jayesh Panchal and Vijaya Shetty, were sentenced to federal prison (78 and 63 months respectively) for their roles in an international tech support scam that defrauded over 40 elderly victims of more than $11 million across multiple states, including a West Michigan victim who lost $398,000. The scam involved fake pop-up warnings and impersonation of tech companies and federal agents to convince seniors to withdraw cash, wire money, or purchase gift cards under false pretenses. Panchal and Shetty were ordered to pay millions in restitution and were among the defendants who traveled throughout the U.S. to collect fraud proceeds from