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Following a cybersecurity breach affecting Virginia school divisions, a UVA cybersecurity expert warns that cyber-scams are evolving with new tools and artificial intelligence, enabling increasingly sophisticated tactics like deepfake impersonations of loved ones. The expert recommends consumers assume their personal information has been compromised, track where they share data, and advocates for stronger consumer protection laws and identity theft management programs including social security number replacement for breach victims. Organizations and schools should work with cybersecurity professionals to implement updated protection measures, as data breaches are viewed as inevitable rather than preventable.

Duane Dixon, Jr., a 35-year-old Maryland man, was convicted of wire fraud conspiracy and three counts of wire fraud for his role in a real estate impersonation scheme targeting a Virginia realtor. The fraud involved a co-conspirator impersonating a property owner to fraudulently list a Hampshire County, West Virginia parcel for sale, with Dixon providing his bank account to receive the sale proceeds; Dixon lied to an undercover FBI agent about his involvement in the scheme. Dixon faces up to 20 years in federal prison per count.

Fei Liang and Ziguang Li were sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for laundering over $6 million in proceeds from a nationwide "tech support" elder fraud scheme. The conspirators opened fictitious business bank accounts used to receive victim wire transfers after scammers falsely convinced elderly targets that they had criminal or technical account issues requiring immediate payment. Law enforcement recovered evidence from Li's residence including lists of fictitious businesses, victims' personal information, and bank account details for at least 25 entities involved in the money laundering operation.

A scam targeting EZ Pass users in Hampton Roads, Virginia sends fraudulent text messages impersonating EZ Pass Virginia or toll facilities, requesting payment for alleged outstanding toll charges and threatening a $35 late fee to trick victims into clicking malicious links. VDOT warns users to contact customer service to verify any toll payment requests before submitting payment and directs them to tollroadsinvirginia.com to check legitimate account information.

Drivers across multiple states are being targeted by a phishing scam impersonating EZDriveMA, Massachusetts' electronic toll collection system, with fraudulent texts claiming small unpaid tolls of $6.99 that direct victims to fake websites to steal personal and financial information. The scam has generated thousands of complaints to the FBI, with Massachusetts residents as primary victims, though texts have been sent nationwide, prompting alerts from highway authorities across six New England states and New York. Authorities advise recipients never to click links in such messages, as the legitimate EZDriveMA system never requests payment by text and only communicates through www.EZDriveMA.com.

Senior citizens in Frederick County lost at least $2.6 million to scams in 2023, part of a statewide trend where Virginia residents over 60 lost more than $94 million that year. The Top of Virginia TRIAD, a law enforcement initiative, is hosting three educational classes and an expo in 2025 covering topics including financial planning, health resources, and personal safety to help seniors protect themselves from fraud and exploitation.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Virginia is warning the public about a resurgent snail-mail scam in which fraudsters send letters posing as legitimate businesses with checks, asking recipients to pose as "secret surveyors" by purchasing multiple gift cards worth hundreds of dollars each in exchange for promised reimbursement. The scammers claim the check is on hold until the survey is completed, but authorities clarify this is false and victims will not be reimbursed. Law enforcement urges residents to discard suspicious mail and remain skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, noting that scammers are typically not local and difficult to prosecute.

The Better Business Bureau warns that "sugar daddy" and "sugar mommy" romance scams increase around Valentine's Day, where scammers pose as wealthy individuals offering victims weekly allowances of hundreds or thousands of dollars in exchange for completing "favors" like purchasing gift cards or paying bills. The scammers typically overpay victims using fraudulent checks or peer-to-peer payment services, and when the payment is reversed, victims are left liable for the money they spent. The BBB recommends verifying dates through reverse image searches, asking detailed questions, and never sending money or personal information to people you haven't met in person.

**Summary:** Romance scams represent the highest financial loss among all fraud types, with older adults particularly vulnerable due to isolation, loneliness, and lower tech awareness, according to an AARP presentation by Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth. Red flags include scammers misrepresenting their identity, building trust quickly, requesting money via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and pressuring victims to keep the relationship secret. The best defense is skepticism, thorough research of online romantic interests, taking time before committing emotionally or financially, and reporting suspected scams to local authorities or www.ic3.gov.

Romance scams are causing the highest financial losses of all fraud types, with older adults particularly vulnerable due to isolation, loneliness, and being targeted by scammers who exploit their assumed wealth and lower tech-savviness. Key red flags include fake identities, rapid declarations of love, requests for money via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and pressure to move off public sites and keep the relationship secret. Victims can protect themselves by developing skepticism, researching potential romantic interests thoroughly, taking time before committing emotionally or financially, and reporting incidents to authorities or contacting the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

Dayton, Virginia is hosting an educational event called "Coffee with a Cop" on February 21, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Dayton Market to address the rising prevalence of senior scams. The event, organized by the Dayton Market and Dayton Police Chief Justin Trout, will educate seniors about common fraud schemes and provide tips for avoiding victimization.

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A Texas man, Rockey Kuykendall, was arrested and extradited to West Virginia for defrauding an elderly Marshall County woman of approximately $53,000 through a prize-winning scam, in which he posed as a local representative claiming to deliver a cash prize and vehicle. The victim's alert family member reported the scheme, enabling detectives to trace checks and identify the suspect, with assistance from Texas National Bank and Marshall Police. Authorities indicate the investigation is ongoing and warn of increasing elder fraud cases, urging victims and their families to report suspected scams immediately.

Self I Solar received a stop work order from Richmond County earlier in 2025 and subsequently faced two violation notices from Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality for environmental infractions. The company was assessed over $61,000 in penalties as a result of these violations.

This article is not about elder fraud. It covers a community response following the deaths of two Virginia Beach police officers, including warnings from the police department about fraudulent fundraisers that may emerge during times of tragedy, and legitimate donation options for supporting the officers' families.

West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey issued a consumer warning about scammers impersonating charities and disaster relief organizations to solicit donations following severe flooding in southern West Virginia. The office provided guidance to consumers on identifying legitimate charities, including verifying established organizations, avoiding cash or wire transfer payments, using credit cards, and checking for secure website connections (https://). Consumers can report suspected fraud to the Attorney General's consumer protection division at 800-368-8808 or file complaints online at www.ago.wv.gov.

Janine Williamson, administrator of the Larry W. Cook Estate, is advocating for stronger protections against elder financial fraud following her uncle's loss of millions of dollars in a phishing scam. Williamson has met with banking industry leaders and is lobbying federal lawmakers to support legislation like Virginia's "Larry's Law," which would require financial institutions to train employees to identify and report senior exploitation, while also pursuing a $3.6 million negligence lawsuit against Wells Fargo and Navy Federal Credit Union. She is calling for a government-appointed Fraud Task Force to disrupt fraud schemes and help victims.

**Financial Exploitation via Unauthorized ACH Transfers** Steven and Ashley Simpson of Charmco, West Virginia were arrested and charged with financial exploitation and computer fraud after allegedly stealing approximately $36,000 from an 82-year-old victim's bank account between August 2023 and December 2024. The couple obtained the victim's banking information from a payment check issued for construction work they performed, then used it to conduct unauthorized ACH transfers until the victim discovered her account was overdrawn. Both defendants face 103 counts of computer fraud and related charges, with bonds set at $50,000 and $100,000 respectively.

**Summary:** Etienne Jackson, 39, of Menands, New York, was arrested on March 1, 2025, after attempting a "grandparent scam" targeting an elderly woman by calling and claiming her grandson needed $9,800 for bail. The victim contacted police instead of paying, and officers arrested Jackson without incident when he arrived at her home to collect the money. Jackson was charged with Attempted Grand Larceny 3rd Degree.

The Virginia DMV warned residents about widespread scam text messages falsely claiming unpaid tolls or E-Z Pass penalties and demanding immediate payment via suspicious links to avoid legal action and fines. The fraudulent texts, originating from various phone numbers and emails, aim to steal money and personal information from recipients. The DMV advises residents to never respond to unexpected toll-related texts, verify messages directly with E-Z Pass, and report suspected scams as junk rather than engaging with them.

Fraudsters are sending text messages impersonating tolling agencies like E-Z Pass, claiming recipients have unpaid tolls and must pay immediately or face penalties to steal personal and financial information. Virginia residents including Tyler Sapp and Kim Graham received these scams, with Sapp's credit card company blocking an attempted charge after he reported it, while state agencies including the Virginia DMV and Department of Transportation are warning the public not to click links, verify messages directly with tolling agencies, and report suspicious texts to authorities.

Multiple transportation authorities across the United States, including the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, have issued warnings about a widespread smishing scam targeting consumers with fake text messages impersonating toll road collection services like EZ-Pass and FastTrak. The scam attempts to steal victims' money and personal information by directing them to fraudulent links demanding payment for unpaid tolls, with variations appearing across multiple states since at least February 2025. The FBI and FTC recommend recipients avoid clicking links, verify toll accounts directly through official websites, and report suspicious messages to authorities.

The Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General warned the public about fraudulent emails with the subject line "Claim Benefits!" that impersonate SSA and direct recipients to fake websites designed to steal personal information. Red flags include sender email addresses from "Social Administration" rather than legitimate ".gov" addresses, and SSA will never request personal information or direct users to click links via unsolicited email. Victims should stop engaging with scammers, secure their accounts, and report the fraud to SSA OIG, local law enforcement, the FBI, and the FTC.

A Romanian man, Florin Doroiman, was arrested after card skimmers were discovered at multiple Walmart locations in Central Virginia (Bedford, Lynchburg, and Amherst County), compromising customer payment information and potentially EBT cards. Doroiman faces multiple felony charges for credit card theft and possession of skimming devices, with potential sentences up to 20 years per charge. Authorities urge shoppers who used checkout registers at these stores on February 25-26 to monitor their bank statements, and security experts recommend using contactless payment methods when available as the best protection against skimming devices.

Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages impersonating toll agencies like E-Z Pass, claiming recipients owe outstanding tolls and threatening legal action or additional fees to pressure quick payment. The Federal Trade Commission and state departments of motor vehicles warn residents not to click links or provide personal information, and instead recommend verifying messages directly with official agency contact information, reporting the texts as spam, and freezing credit cards if personal data was compromised. To combat the scam, consumers can report suspicious texts to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and watch for red flags such as misspelled words, awkward phrasing, and links to unofficial websites.

Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, according to FTC data, with the increase driven by a higher percentage of victims reporting losses rather than more fraud reports overall. Impostor scams were the most commonly reported type of fraud, followed by online shopping issues, job/business opportunities, investments, and internet services. Regional losses included $30.4 million in Washington D.C., $198.9 million in Maryland, and $293.7 million in Virginia in 2024.

Scammers, likely Chinese criminal gangs operating overseas, have launched a widespread toll road scam sending threatening text messages to millions of Americans claiming unpaid FastTrak, E-ZPass, or similar tolls with threats of fines and license revocation. The scam is highly effective because it is cheap to execute, targets personal information for further fraud, and exploits security gaps in both Apple and Android phones; cybersecurity researchers have identified 60,000 domains used in the attacks and documented a 900% increase in searches for "toll road scams" in recent months.

The Pleasant Community Education Outreach Service (CEOS) in Point Pleasant, West Virginia held a meeting on March 13 where member Elaine Matheny presented an educational lesson on scams targeting senior citizens, covering ten types of fraud including telephone scams, IRS scams, romance scams, tech support scams, and lottery scams, along with prevention tips. The lesson, written by Gina Taylor and Carter Taylor, was designed to educate the community on how to recognize and avoid common elder fraud schemes.

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West Virginians reported over $27 million in fraud losses in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission, as scams continue to rise across the state through phone calls, emails, and text messages. The article outlines common scam tactics including IRS/Social Security impersonation, romance scams, tech support scams, and phishing emails, and advises consumers to watch for red flags such as urgent language, requests for payment via gift cards or wire transfers, and unfamiliar contact information. Key protective measures include not answering unknown numbers, never clicking suspicious links, verifying charities before donating, and reporting suspected scams to authorities.

This article does not contain sufficient substantive content for the Elderus fraud database. While the headline references "Savvy Senior: How to protect yourself from identity theft scams," the only actual advice provided is that individuals concerned about personal information privacy should place a "fraud alert" or "credit freeze" on their credit file. This is a brief educational tip rather than a news event involving actual fraud or elder abuse.

**Fraud Prevention Efforts in Virginia** Fraud losses among Virginia adults 60 and over surged from $25 million in 2020 to $94 million in 2023, prompting AARP Virginia to launch widespread fraud prevention workshops throughout the state. Common scams targeting seniors include tech-support impostor schemes, utility bill fraud, identity theft, and impostor scams, with veterans being 40 percent more likely to lose money when targeted. AARP Virginia is combating this rising threat through community presentations, online workshops, and trained volunteer speakers who educate residents on recognizing and avoiding the latest fraud schemes.

A high school student named Arhan Menta founded the Kumar Project, a nonprofit organization, after his grandfather lost money to a remote-access scam, to educate seniors about financial fraud prevention. Through workshops at senior centers and libraries across Northern Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, and Texas, Arhan and his partners have reached over 1,000 seniors with educational programming and recommendations such as sharing account access with trusted relatives to monitor suspicious activity. Arhan is now working with Virginia state legislators to advocate for laws requiring greater financial scam education and bank transparency to protect seniors from exploitation.

AARP Virginia is hosting three free webinars in April to educate the public on protecting personal information online, addressing the $158.3 billion stolen by scammers from Americans in 2023. The sessions will cover recognizing online scams, managing privacy settings, limiting ad tracking, and current fraud schemes targeting Virginia residents, with support from the state Attorney General's office. AARP also offers a free hotline (1-877-908-3360) to help individuals determine if they've been contacted by scammers, noting that AI tools are making scam messages harder to detect.

The IRS Criminal Investigation division has charged more than 1,000 people with CARES Act-related fraud over the five years since the pandemic relief program's passage, with particular focus on the Paycheck Protection Program and Employee Retention Credit loans. In Virginia alone, a federal grand jury indicted 24 people from the Roanoke area for wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering related to PPP fraud, while a Southwest Virginia woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a separate scheme involving over $1.5 million in stolen unemployment benefits. The IRS states it will continue investigating fraudulent use of pandemic relief programs.

AARP offers Dr. Virginia Vincenti, a University of Wyoming professor with over a decade of research experience in elder abuse and financial exploitation, as a speaker for community events. Dr. Vincenti delivers presentations on recognizing abuse warning signs, understanding vulnerability factors, and implementing protective legal measures through power-of-attorney documents and wills. Her research-based, compassionate approach is designed to help seniors, caregivers, and professionals prevent financial exploitation and elder abuse.

In 2023, Americans aged 60 and older lost over $3.4 billion to fraud, making them high-risk targets due to increasingly sophisticated scam tactics and technological advances. Residents of Lake Prince Woods, a 55-plus community in Suffolk, Virginia, are combating this trend by publishing scam alerts in their neighborhood publication to educate and protect their community members.

Policy changes to Social Security's appointment requirements have created confusion among Virginians that may increase vulnerability to scams, which typically begin with urgent-sounding phone calls, texts, or emails falsely claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. Over 1.6 million Virginians depend on Social Security benefits, and proposed in-person-only signup requirements would have particularly burdened seniors, especially the 9% of Virginia seniors living more than 45 miles from the nearest Social Security office.

Nearly 150,000 West Virginia households rely on SNAP benefits, with the state ranking third nationally for participation. The USDA reported over $220 million in stolen SNAP benefits nationally in 2024, with West Virginia experiencing $92,000 in theft from 171 families through card skimming—where devices capture card data and PIN codes from ATMs and terminals. State officials are advising SNAP recipients to block out-of-state transactions, inspect card readers for suspicious devices, update PINs monthly before benefits are issued, and note that fraudulent withdrawals typically occur between midnight and 6 a.m. on benefit distribution days.

Policy confusion surrounding Social Security Administration changes—which were initially announced and then reversed—has created an environment that scammers are exploiting to target Virginians, according to AARP Virginia's state director. Con artists typically initiate contact via phone, text, or email claiming urgency and impersonating Social Security Administration officials to defraud beneficiaries, with more than 1.6 million Virginians relying on Social Security benefits as critical income. The SSA's planned office closures and in-person appointment requirements would have further complicated access for seniors, particularly the 9% of Virginia seniors already living more than 45 miles from the nearest office.

Mary Ellen Strange, a retired nurse from Indiana, fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam in June 2024 where fraudsters posing as Amazon, FTC, and federal officials falsely accused her of money laundering, drug trafficking, and other federal crimes. The scammers convinced her to withdraw cash from her bank accounts under the guise of an "alternative dispute resolution" process, exploiting her fear of legal consequences and promises of eventual restitution. This case illustrates how sophisticated fraud schemes manipulate victims through authority impersonation and psychological manipulation, with the victim's story being shared as part of AARP's awareness campaign to encourage fraud victims to speak publicly about their

In June 2024, Mary Ellen Strange, a retired nurse from Indiana, fell victim to an elaborate impersonation scam in which fraudsters posing as Amazon, FTC, and federal agents convinced her she faced serious federal crimes including money laundering and child pornography. The scammers used a fake "alternative dispute resolution" process to manipulate Strange into withdrawing large amounts of cash from her bank under the false premise that she would receive restitution and clearance letters from government officials. This case illustrates a common elder fraud tactic combining authority impersonation, fear-based manipulation, and false promises of resolution.

Dementia Friendly Blue Ridge, a new initiative led by regional nonprofit DementiaMatters, is launching in June 2024 to educate businesses, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and community organizations across the Northern Shenandoah Valley (Winchester and surrounding counties in Virginia and West Virginia) on how to better support and interact with people living with dementia. The program addresses the region's rising dementia prevalence, with approximately 164,000 Virginians currently living with Alzheimer's disease, and aims to help community members feel safe and welcome while providing caregivers with necessary support through training on communication strategies and dementia awareness.

This article describes an educational event held by AARP Virginia that presented information about six types of scams targeting older adults, paired with wine tastings. The scams covered included cryptocurrency fraud (where victims are tricked into depositing cash at crypto ATMs), jury duty scams (imposter calls claiming arrest is imminent unless fines are paid), and romance scams, with volunteers providing recognition strategies and prevention advice for each.

Virginia Tech experts caution that AI-enhanced scams using tools like ChatGPT 4o can create convincing fake documents, images, and deepfake voices, making fraud increasingly accessible and sophisticated. They recommend safeguards including verifying source authenticity, checking documents for mathematical or logical errors, enabling two-factor authentication, and potentially using blockchain technology to verify digital file integrity. While AI tools themselves are not fundamentally different from previous fraud methods, experts emphasize the need for continuous public education, updated detection policies, and digital literacy to combat these evolving threats.

I cannot provide a summary of this content. The text you've provided appears to be navigation menu and header elements from an NBC4 Washington website, not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. To assist you with Elderus database summaries, please provide the actual article content that discusses a scam, fraud incident, or elder abuse case.

Scam Jam 2025, held on April 30 at Northern Virginia Community College, brought together hundreds of experts in elder abuse prevention, law enforcement, and protective services to share information on safeguarding older adults from fraud and exploitation. The event featured keynote speaker Paul Greenwood, a former San Diego district attorney with experience prosecuting over 750 elder abuse cases, and screened a film highlighting Adult Protective Services efforts in protecting vulnerable populations. The annual conference, organized by AARP Virginia and Fairfax County's Silver Shield Anti-Scam Campaign, emphasized prevention, protection, and prosecution as key strategies for elder safety.

AARP Virginia hosted an interactive "Whodunnit: Spot the Scammer" event in Richmond on April 10, 2025, attracting over 30 participants to learn about common fraud schemes affecting older adults. The educational event featured a fictional case study of a retiree targeted by romance, sweepstakes, and IRS scams, with volunteers providing information on how to recognize and avoid these frauds, addressing the 57,867 fraud reports filed in Virginia during 2024. AARP's Fraud Watch Network offers free support through their helpline at 877-908-3360, answering approximately 500 calls daily to help fraud victims and provide

A 65-year-old man from Henrico, Virginia, who was reported missing on Wednesday morning was located safe a few hours later. The Henrico Police Department did not disclose additional details about the circumstances of his disappearance or discovery.

**Summary:** An 18-year-old high school senior, Michael Bosworth Jr., was fatally shot on Saturday in Virginia during a "ding-dong-ditch" prank when he and another teenager rang a doorbell and ran away; a 27-year-old homeowner, Tyler Chase Butler, opened fire thinking it was a home burglary attempt. The other teenager was injured but survived, and Butler was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, while the two surviving minors were not charged. **Note:** This incident does not involve elder fraud or abuse and falls outside the scope of an elder fraud research database.