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Americans age 60 and older lost more than $3 billion to scammers in 2023, with elder fraud complaints to the FBI increasing 14% that year, though actual losses are likely underreported due to embarrassment and incomplete age data. Older adults are particularly vulnerable because they tend to be more trusting, have financial assets, and may be less comfortable with technology; tech-support scams are most common, while investment scams cause the largest losses. Prevention through education on identifying scams, reporting crimes, and building awareness is critical to combating this growing epidemic and mitigating its traumatic psychological effects on victims.

Dennis Jones, an 82-year-old Virginia man, lost his entire life savings to a "pig butchering" scam after being groomed online for months by a woman claiming to be named Jessie who convinced him to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency; devastated by financial ruin, he died by suicide before his family could help him recover. Pig butchering scams, run primarily by Chinese criminal gangs operating from Southeast Asia, involve con artists building relationships with victims over months before pressuring them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms, with the FBI estimating these scams stole nearly $4 billion from American victims in the past year alone—a 53% increase from the previous year

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) prompted Virginia State Police to highlight common scams targeting older adults, including a software update scam that defrauded one Virginia senior of $36,000 and the "Grandparent scam" using AI voices to impersonate grandchildren in distress. The advisory recommends independent verification of requests, avoiding gift card or cryptocurrency payments, establishing trusted "buddy systems," and regular financial audits to help vulnerable adults protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of West Virginia hosted a financial crimes conference in Wheeling to educate bank officials, credit union staff, and other financial professionals on identifying and preventing fraud targeting vulnerable populations. The conference covered multiple fraud types affecting West Virginians, including elder financial abuse (subdivided into "elder thefts" by known individuals and "elder scams" by strangers), romance scams, and money laundering, with federal law enforcement and prosecutors sharing current trends and investigation insights. The training emphasized helping financial professionals recognize suspicious activity, properly file reports, and understand why victims—particularly elderly and trusting West Virginians—often resist warnings about ongoing scams.

The U.S. Attorneys' offices for West Virginia's Northern and Southern districts hosted a Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering Conference in Wheeling to educate banking officials, compliance officers, and other financial professionals on identifying and preventing money laundering, elder financial exploitation, and romance scams. The conference featured panels with FBI agents, IRS agents, and federal prosecutors discussing strategies to better protect older West Virginians, with particular focus on the challenge of preventing victims from sending additional money to their exploiters. Officials noted an uptick in elder financial exploitation cases across the region and committed to improving protective measures.

Samuel Kristofer Bunner, 51, of Ranson, West Virginia, was sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison for defrauding an elderly man with dementia of nearly $2 million. After befriending the victim at a VFW where he worked, Bunner obtained power of attorney and systematically stole from him by selling real estate, liquidating investment accounts, and opening fraudulent credit cards. The victim's quality of care has deteriorated significantly as a result of losing his life savings, and Bunner has been ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution, though full recovery is unlikely.

Samuel Kristofer Bunner, 51, of West Virginia, was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for defrauding an elderly man with dementia of approximately $1.9 million through real estate sales, account theft, and identity fraud. Bunner used the stolen funds to purchase homes, vehicles, and consumer goods, and has been ordered to pay full restitution, though recovery is unlikely; the fraud significantly reduced the quality of care available to the victim in his declining years. Bunner's wife, Wendy Bunner, is a co-defendant awaiting sentencing.

Federal prosecutors in West Virginia are warning that the state's large elderly population is particularly vulnerable to financial schemes including romance scams and money laundering related to drug and human trafficking, citing West Virginia's older demographics and trusting culture as risk factors. Two U.S. Attorneys are organizing a statewide conference in June to educate financial professionals on recognizing suspicious activity and identifying signs of elder abuse, trafficking, and fraud.

A Norfolk, Virginia woman discovered her monthly energy bill had dramatically increased from approximately $80 to over $1,100 between February and March 2024, prompting her to suspect she was a scam victim. Dominion Energy advised customers concerned about billing irregularities to contact the company immediately, noting that while the utility will investigate potential fraud, customers remain responsible for paying bills but may receive flexible payment arrangements.

AARP Virginia identifies three prevalent Medicare scams in 2024: false billing for unreceived diabetes treatments and devices, offers of free products (typically cheap or nonexistent) in exchange for Medicare numbers, and free genetic testing at health fairs designed to harvest Medicare information. Seniors are advised to scrutinize monthly Medicare statements, only share their Medicare number with legitimate healthcare providers, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.

Financial scams targeting seniors are rising, with the FBI reporting that scams cost 80,000 seniors $3.1 billion in 2022. The Smyth County Chamber of Commerce hosted an Older Americans Day event where Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and local law enforcement warned residents about common scams—including phone calls impersonating banks or loved ones—and emphasized never sharing personal financial information unsolicited. Officials advised victims to contact the Attorney General's Office or call 911, and encouraged a "trust, but verify" approach to any requests for sensitive data, particularly given emerging threats from artificial intelligence that can mimic voices.

Scammers in Virginia Beach are impersonating sheriff's deputies and sending fake court summonses via text and phone calls to defraud residents of between $2,500 and $9,000. The criminals use spoofed official numbers and direct victims to transfer money via wire, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, with similar scams in nearby Chesapeake resulting in losses of at least $15,000 per victim. Law enforcement advises that legitimate authorities never request money over the phone and recommends hanging up on suspicious calls, independently verifying numbers, and reporting fraud immediately to police.

This press release announces the annual U.S. Attorney Awards for the Northern District of West Virginia, recognizing 22 public servants and law enforcement officials for exceptional work in criminal investigations and community service. Among the honorees, Dontuwee Boykin (IRS-Criminal Investigations), J.W. Smith (West Virginia State Police), and Loretta Phillips received the Outstanding Elder Fraud Investigation award for their dedication to combating elder fraud in the region.

U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld honored 22 public servants and law enforcement officials in Ohio County, West Virginia for exceptional work in criminal investigations and community service, including recognition for outstanding efforts in drug trafficking, violent crime, human trafficking, and identity theft cases. Notable honorees included the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force and Marshall County Drug Task Force for drug investigations, and Dontuwee Boykin, J.W. Smith, and Loretta Phillips specifically recognized for outstanding elder fraud investigation work. The annual United States Attorney Awards ceremony recognized individuals who went "above and beyond the normal call of duty" in bringing criminals to justice across the Northern District of West Virginia.

Georgia resident Malachi Mullings received a 10-year prison sentence for laundering $4.5 million in proceeds from business email compromise (BEC) attacks targeting healthcare providers and romance scams targeting individuals, including numerous elderly victims, between 2019 and July 2021. Mullings used multiple bank accounts under his company name to conceal the fraud, purchasing luxury items including a Ferrari with stolen funds; one romance scam victim alone lost $260,000. He pleaded guilty to eight charges including money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a larger scheme involving nine other suspects across Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia that defrauded state Medicaid programs

**Summary:** Sunyu Qian, 31, from Fairfax, Virginia, pleaded guilty to defrauding elderly people of approximately $1.1 million through gift card scams between November 2020 and August 2023, as part of a larger criminal organization that used the cards to purchase electronics. In a separate scheme from April 2023 to March 2024, Qian used counterfeit price tags to purchase baby formula at deep discounts from retailers, defrauding them of $124,000. Qian pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with sentencing scheduled for September 18 and a

A sophisticated property fraud scheme involving Jose Manuel Santiago, Rosson Dwayne Hamilton, and Vernon Lavoie resulted in multiple homes being stolen and sold without owners' knowledge across Virginia, Florida, and North Carolina. The trio created fraudulent bank accounts in homeowners' names, with Lavoie using fake IDs to impersonate owners; one home in Tampa, Florida sold for $65,000 and a U.S. Army veteran lost his house along with military memorabilia and his Jeep. Santiago received three years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, Hamilton received one day, and Lavoie received two years and seven months; experts recommend homeowners obtain

The Lynchburg Police Department is warning about romance scammers who manipulate victims—often lonely individuals met on dating apps and social media—into becoming "money mules" that launder proceeds from human trafficking and drug trafficking, sometimes over months or years. Victims who are exploited this way have been prosecuted as criminals in Lynchburg despite being manipulated, with charges potentially reaching felony level depending on amounts involved; last year Virginians lost $205 million to fraud overall. Police advise victims to immediately cut contact with scammers and report to local law enforcement.

James City County, Virginia authorities reported a rise in impersonation scams where callers falsely posed as law enforcement officers ("Deputy Shawn Anby" and "Derek Petterson") claiming victims had missed court appearances and threatening arrest warrants unless they immediately transferred funds. The scammers provided fake badge numbers and claimed affiliation with regional police and sheriff's departments in Richmond and Kent, with similar incidents reported across Virginia in January through April. Officials emphasized that legitimate law enforcement and courts never contact people by phone requesting money or personal financial information.

An FBI report revealed that scammers stole over $94 million from Virginia residents over age 60 in 2023, representing a 56% increase from the prior year and moving the state into the top 10 nationally for elder fraud losses. Tech support fraud was the most commonly reported scam type, with victims over 60 losing more than all other age groups combined, some resorting to remortgaging homes and emptying retirement accounts to cover losses. The significant increase has been partially attributed to increased virtual activities and isolation following the COVID-19 pandemic, with experts noting that many cases go unreported to law enforcement.

A Fredericksburg, Virginia detective has been investigating an elaborate romance scam perpetrated by Fred Lee Dick Jr., who allegedly conned at least eight women out of tens of thousands of dollars by creating fake personas (including "Dean Orion Constantine") on social media. The suspect posed as a Marine and cancer patient to build romantic relationships, gaining access to victims' credit cards and personal assets, including an $88,000 truck he never returned; DNA evidence confirmed his identity, and police currently have 40 pending warrants for his arrest as they continue to locate him.

Criminals are impersonating Social Security Administration officials in phone scams, claiming victims' Social Security numbers have been suspended or offering higher monthly benefits to obtain personal information. AARP Virginia warns that scammers, who often already possess the last four digits of victims' numbers from dark web sources, are targeting people daily to steal complete Social Security numbers for fraud; imposter scams resulted in over $617 million in reported theft in 2023.

FBI forensic accountant Daniel Booth warns that cryptocurrency scams are increasingly prevalent in the Hampton Roads, Virginia region, representing traditional fraud schemes updated to use digital currency. Three common types include ransomware attacks on businesses (demanding crypto payments for system access), fake tech support scams targeting individuals (gaining remote access to steal financial data), and "pig butchering" schemes (fake investment websites encouraging victims to deposit money with false promises of trading gains, sometimes resulting in loss of life savings). Victims of cryptocurrency fraud are encouraged to report cases to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

"Smishing" is a text message-based scam combining "phishing" and SMS that tricks recipients into clicking malicious links by claiming unpaid toll balances are due. The FBI issued a warning after more than 2,000 complaints across North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though Virginia has not yet reported cases; authorities advise never clicking links in unsolicited toll-related texts and instead using official websites or calling legitimate customer service numbers to verify account status.

The Virginia Department of Transportation and FBI warned the public about a widespread "smishing" scam targeting over 2,000 people nationwide, in which fraudulent text messages claim recipients owe money for unpaid tolls and direct them to fake payment websites. The scam affects users of various toll systems including E-ZPass, NC Quick Pass, and SunPass, with messages often threatening late fees to pressure victims into clicking malicious links and providing financial information. Authorities advise recipients to verify toll balances directly through official websites, never click links in unsolicited texts, and report suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

A Fostoria, Ohio woman fell victim to a Facebook impersonation scam when hackers posed as her friend requesting her phone number under the pretense of account recovery, gaining access to her Facebook account and a linked debit card that resulted in unauthorized charges of $441 for an airline ticket to Australia and $113 to ARC. The same scammers subsequently used the same tactic to compromise accounts of her friends and family members across multiple states including Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Arizona, and Texas. Local authorities advise users to unlink payment methods from social media accounts and verify requests through independent contact methods before providing personal information.

A scam targeting car shoppers involves imposters impersonating local car dealers, with such virtual vehicle vendor frauds rising in frequency both locally and nationally in the Roanoke, Virginia area. The Better Business Bureau advises potential victims to watch for red flags and report suspicious activity to the BBB by phone or online.

Virginia experienced 491 tax scam victims in 2023 who lost over $12 million to government impersonation schemes, ranking the state 11th nationally. Scammers primarily target older adults by impersonating the IRS through fake websites (using .com or .net instead of .gov) to steal login credentials and redirect tax refunds within minutes, with potential access to accounts lasting years. The article features a reformed scammer who warns that verifying URLs and protecting IRS account information are critical defenses against these schemes.

Shannon and Kit Abell are retired professionals in Roanoke County, Virginia who volunteer as fraud prevention educators through the Triad program, a partnership between AARP, law enforcement, and community groups designed to reduce crime against older adults. Shannon delivered 52 fraud prevention presentations in 2023 covering scams such as romance fraud, identity theft, and grandparent scams, while the Triad program has expanded from over 200 Virginia locations at its peak to 59 chapters, with AARP and state officials working to revitalize participation. The program emphasizes peer-to-peer education and local law enforcement involvement to build community trust and help victims connect with appropriate resources.

In 2023, Virginia residents lost over $200 million to scams according to the Federal Trade Commission. The Better Business Bureau warns that AI-generated content is making scams increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect, with scammers using AI to create fake celebrity endorsements in shopping and investment schemes. The BBB recommends verifying legitimacy through reverse image searches, checking for audio/visual irregularities, and conducting thorough research before engaging with unfamiliar offers.

A couple in West Virginia nearly fell victim to a debt consolidation scam after receiving an unsolicited call promising to negotiate with creditors and consolidate payments, but their son's investigation using the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker revealed numerous complaints against the company. The article also warns consumers against online shopping scams that steal financial information or send counterfeit goods, and advises shopping only at trusted retailers to ensure legitimate products and returns policies.

Virginians lost $205 million to scammers in 2023, with 54,602 fraud reports filed to the FTC, making Virginia the 12th most defrauded state. Identity theft and imposter scams are the most common fraud types, often involving criminals stealing personal information from social media profiles to create fake accounts, impersonate victims, or execute romance scams requesting money and gifts. Law enforcement recommends making social media accounts private, avoiding profile pictures, monitoring credit scores regularly, and reporting suspected scams to local police immediately.

The Huntington Police Department warned residents of an ongoing phone scam in which fraudsters impersonate police officers and claim victims have outstanding warrants to extort money and personal information. One scammer posed as "Sergeant Michael DeVito," leaving voicemails about urgent legal matters to pressure victims into calling back, with similar reports emerging across West Virginia since the beginning of the year. Police emphasized that legitimate law enforcement never solicits money for warrants or requests gift cards or money orders, and urged residents to report such calls to the department.

U.S. prosecutors in Virginia are investigating whether Meta's social media platforms facilitated and profited from illegal drug sales, with subpoenas issued last year and the FDA assisting in the criminal grand jury probe. Meta stated that illicit drug sales violate its policies and that it actively works to remove such content and cooperates with law enforcement, while also announcing partnerships with the State Department and UN to combat synthetic drug sales online. --- **Note:** This article is not related to elder fraud or elder abuse. It concerns general drug trafficking investigations and would not typically be included in an Elderus elder fraud database unless there was a specific connection to elder victims or elder-targeted scams.

Virginia's House Bill 692, which awaits Governor Youngkin's signature, aims to combat elder financial fraud that costs seniors $3 billion annually by incentivizing banks and credit unions to train employees to identify and report financial exploitation of seniors. The bill was inspired by the case of Navy veteran Commander Larry Cook, who was scammed out of $3.6 million, and would allow at-risk seniors to maintain lists of trusted contacts at their banks while offering financial institutions liability protection if they disclose red flags of exploitation. If signed, the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions must establish bank training guidelines by January 2026.

Joseph Beach, 54, of Inwood, West Virginia pleaded guilty to wire fraud for misappropriating $253,867.12 in veteran's disability, retirement, and social security benefits from his elderly father while serving as his fiduciary. Beach, who was responsible for managing his father's finances while the father received care at a veterans' facility, instead used the funds for his own personal benefit. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office with assistance from the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and Social Security Administration.

Joseph Beach, a 54-year-old West Virginia man, pleaded guilty to wire fraud after stealing $253,867.12 from his elderly father while serving as his fiduciary, misappropriating veteran's disability, retirement, and social security benefits for personal use. The victim, who resides in a veterans' care facility, was defrauded by his own son over an extended period. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office and investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and the Social Security Administration.

**Summary:** Joseph Beach, a 54-year-old from Inwood, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing $253,867.12 from his elderly father, a veteran in care facility, by misappropriating his father's disability, retirement, and Social Security benefits while serving as his fiduciary. The case was investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and Social Security Administration, with prosecution by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Fairfax County, Virginia police warned residents about ongoing scam calls impersonating bank fraud departments or police officers that pressure victims into purchasing gift cards or making Bitcoin ATM deposits, with reported losses ranging from $10,000 to $31,100 per victim. Police advise hanging up suspicious calls, independently contacting financial institutions through legitimate channels, and never sharing personal information with callers claiming to represent banks or authorities.

Fairfax County, Virginia police warned residents about seasonal driveway-paving scams that typically emerge in spring, where unlicensed contractors solicit door-to-door, collect deposits under false urgency, and either fail to complete work or abandon jobs, leaving homeowners out money and with damaged property. The department recommends verifying contractors have valid solicitor's licenses, obtaining multiple quotes, researching businesses online, and reporting unlicensed solicitors to police.

This article discusses Virginia legislation (House Bill 692) designed to protect elderly and vulnerable adults from financial exploitation. The bill would allow seniors to register trusted contacts at their banks who can be alerted during financial emergencies, and requires bank staff training on identifying financial abuse. According to 2022 data, over 88,000 people aged 60+ reported losses totaling $3.1 billion to elder financial scams, with dementia patients particularly vulnerable.

Virginia passed legislation ("Larry's Law") to establish uniform training guidelines for banks and credit unions to better identify and report financial exploitation of elderly and vulnerable adults, inspired by the case of Navy veteran Larry Cook who lost over $3 million in an alleged wire fraud scheme involving nearly 75 overseas transfers in 2022 despite his cognitive impairment from a stroke. The measure provides legal protection to financial institutions that undergo the training and report suspected exploitation to authorities or trusted contacts, with guidelines to be developed by January 2026. This action comes amid national concern, with over 88,000 seniors reporting combined losses of $3.1 billion to elder fraud in 2022 alone.

A Navy commander's niece is appealing the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking to hold banks responsible for transferring $3.68 million from her uncle's accounts in alleged scams, while simultaneously praising Virginia lawmakers for passing legislation to strengthen financial exploitation protections for seniors. The case highlights the need for greater bank accountability in preventing elder financial fraud.

Virginia's House Bill 692 passed unanimously in both chambers in February 2024, requiring financial institutions to train employees to identify and report elder financial exploitation, establish trusted contact procedures, and develop detection guidelines. The bill was championed by advocate Janine Williamson, whose uncle retired Navy Commander Larry Cook lost $3.6 million through international wire fraud scams that financial institution employees failed to detect or report, prompting her negligence lawsuit against Wells Fargo and Navy Federal Credit Union.

According to an AARP-West Virginia survey of over 700 residents aged 45 and older, nearly half of West Virginia adults know a family member or close friend who may have been a scam or fraud victim, with scammers increasingly using AI to manipulate vulnerable people into making quick financial decisions. The survey also found that 84 percent of state residents rely on or plan to rely on Social Security for retirement income, over 77 percent support repealing state income tax on Social Security, and one in three residents aged 45 and older have skipped prescriptions due to high drug costs. The findings are being used by AARP to inform advocacy efforts around financial security, healthcare access, and support for

Virginia Tech has experienced an influx of phishing scams targeting university email accounts, primarily using social engineering tactics rather than system vulnerabilities to trick recipients into sharing personal information, money, or clicking malicious links. While misinformation claims the scams are new or that Outlook's security is ineffective, officials report the scams have persisted for years and Outlook has strong protective tools; notably, most victims have been students rather than older individuals. University officials recommend marking suspicious emails as phishing, verifying sender addresses through official staff lists, and reporting compromised accounts immediately.

Two men from Florida and Virginia have been indicted for operating a major elder fraud scheme that stole approximately $26 million from seniors across Western Pennsylvania and beyond between January 2024 and August 2025, using deceptive emails to trick victims into sending cash or depositing funds into Bitcoin ATMs. The perpetrators, Amit Kumar Jain and Trevaughn J. Yearwood, allegedly laundered the stolen money through fake business entities and bank accounts in Virginia. Seniors should be cautious of unsolicited emails requesting money transfers, verify requests by contacting companies directly using official phone numbers, and report suspicious activity to local authorities or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

An 82-year-old in Northern Virginia nearly lost over $20,000 to a fake lawyer scam in October, where a caller claimed the victim's son needed legal representation and used emotional manipulation (including recorded crying) to pressure payment. Quick intervention by a family member and coordinated law enforcement stopped the fraud; investigators identified the scammer as Yordanys Rodriguez, 33, of New York, who used the name of a deceased attorney and was arrested in Pennsylvania on charges of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses, and was also found to be impersonating a law enforcement officer.

An 82-year-old in Northern Virginia was nearly scammed out of over $20,000 by a fraudster posing as a lawyer claiming to represent their son in a criminal case, complete with a crying man in the background for authenticity. The victim's family intervened before money was lost, and law enforcement coordinated a fake cash pickup that led to the arrest of Yordanys Rodriguez, 33, of the Bronx, who was found to be impersonating a law enforcement officer and is now facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by false pretenses.

Shawn Smith, Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol Director, warned seniors at the Front Royal/Warren County TRIAD Senior Expo about three major Medicare scams: government impostors, durable medical equipment fraud, and genetic testing scams, which collectively cost Medicare $60-$80 billion annually. Smith advised attendees to avoid unsolicited calls, never disclose Medicare numbers, scrutinize medical offers, and regularly review Medicare statements for fraudulent charges, noting that the Senior Medicare Patrol offers free assistance through 1-800-938-8885 to help seniors report suspicious activity and protect themselves from becoming unwitting accomplices to fraud.