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Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian man, was arrested upon arrival at a Texas airport and charged with 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million. Using fake dating profiles under the alias "Giovanni," Nwadialo posed as a U.S. military member overseas and convinced victims to send money through various pretexts, including military fines and investment opportunities, with one victim losing over $2.4 million. If convicted, Nwadialo faces up to 20 years in prison per count.

Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested and indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million in Western Washington. Using false profiles with the name "Giovanni" on dating platforms like Match and Zoosk, Nwadialo posed as a military serviceman and manipulated victims into sending money through various pretexts, including claims about his father's death, military fines, and investment opportunities. One victim alone lost $2.4 million, while others lost between $270,000 and $310,000 each

Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested at a Texas airport and indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million. Using fake military personas and profiles on dating sites like Match and Zoosk, Nwadialo convinced victims he needed money for various expenses, including military fines, funeral costs, and investments, with one victim alone losing $2.4 million. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old newly elected Local Government Chairman in Nigeria, was arrested in Texas on charges of operating a $3.3 million romance scam targeting multiple victims in the United States. Operating under fake personas using the name "Giovanni" on dating websites like Match and Zoosk, Nwadialo posed as a deployed military officer and fabricated various emergencies—including military fines, inheritance transfers, investment schemes, and funeral expenses—to defraud at least four victims of between $150,000 and $2.4 million each. He faces 14 counts of wire fraud, each punishable by

Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested at Houston airport on 14 counts of wire fraud for operating romance scams that defrauded multiple women of millions of dollars. Using fake profiles on dating platforms (Match, Zoosk, Christian Cafe) under assumed names, he posed as a U.S. military member stationed overseas and fabricated scenarios—including inheritance issues, military fines, and investment opportunities—to solicit money from victims, with individual losses ranging from $310,000 to $2.4 million. He faces up to 20 years in prison and will be extradited to Washington state for arra

Franklin Nwadialo, a newly elected council chairman in Anambra State, Nigeria, was arrested by the FBI at a Texas airport on charges related to a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million. Nwadialo allegedly posed as a military officer named "Giovanni" on dating websites including Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café to convince victims to send money, and now faces 14 counts of wire fraud with a potential 20-year sentence. The Anambra State government is considering replacing him with his deputy following his arrest.

Elder fraud prevention advocate Janine Williamson called on Congress to pass the Protecting Consumers from Payment Scams Act (S. 4943 and H.R. 9303), which would require financial institutions to reimburse fraud victims and hold banks accountable, citing that one in three consumers experienced bank fraud resulting in $10 billion in losses last year. Williamson's advocacy is motivated by her uncle Larry Cook's loss of millions of dollars in a phishing scam, which inspired Virginia's HB 692 ("Larry's Law"), now in effect, requiring financial institutions to train employees to identify elder financial exploitation and establish trusted contacts on accounts. Williamson has filed a $

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington announced multiple healthcare fraud prosecutions protecting patients and consumers. The largest case involved Lincare Holdings, Inc., which agreed to pay $29 million in August 2023 for fraudulently overbilling Medicare for oxygen equipment; as part of the settlement, Lincare refunded $976,137 in overcharged co-pays to 4,917 patients. Additional cases included convictions and settlements involving kickback schemes, unnecessary medical equipment billing, and insurance fraud totaling millions of dollars in penalties and restitution.

Veterans are frequently targeted by scammers using schemes such as VA loan refinancing scams, pension poaching, romance scams, and fake veteran charity frauds. The article provides protective measures including: never sharing personal information or sending money to unknown parties, resisting pressure to act quickly, consulting trusted contacts before responding to offers, verifying charities through organizations like the Better Business Bureau, and obtaining benefit information directly from state veterans' affairs agencies.

A Venezuelan national, Deivy Jose Rodriguez Delgado, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for using dating apps to lure three American men to the Dominican Republic, then holding them hostage at knifepoint and forcing them to have family members send ransom money to his CashApp account in July 2022. Delgado was arrested in September 2022 after Dominican authorities traced a vehicle used in two of the abductions to him and found a knife in his car. Experts warn this sophisticated romance scam targeting lonely individuals seeking connections online is difficult to detect and increasingly common internationally, recommending victims meet strangers only in public places.

The Washington State Department of Transportation warned the public about a phishing scam using fraudulent text messages impersonating its Good To Go! tolling system, directing recipients to fake websites designed to mimic legitimate DOT pages in order to steal payment information. The DOT advised account holders to verify toll balances directly through its official website, delete unsolicited payment requests, and remember that the agency never requests birth dates or driver's license numbers for toll payments. Suspected victims were instructed to report fraudulent messages to the Federal Trade Commission.

The Washington County Sheriff's office warned senior citizens about a sweepstakes scam in which fraudsters contact victims claiming they won the "American Senior Citizen Association Sweepstakes" and demand payment via cashier's check to claim their prize. The sheriff's office urged seniors not to provide money or personal information to the scammers and provided resources for reporting the fraud to the Ohio Attorney General's Fraud Division or the sheriff's office directly.

San Antonio police warn residents that holiday season scams spike during the giving season, with common schemes including fake package delivery texts with malware links, fraudulent social media ads and phishing websites, fake charities, "secret shopper" job scams involving bounced checks, and impersonation scams from criminals posing as banks or law enforcement. Authorities recommend shopping from reputable sources only, researching organizations before donating, verifying suspicious communications by calling companies directly, and remaining vigilant across all communication channels including texts, emails, and social media.

**Article:** "Senior Citizens Targeted by Technology Scams: How to Identify and Protect Against Fraud" by Beth Swift, Washington Evening Journal Senior citizens are increasingly targeted by technology scams including impersonation fraud, prize/sweepstakes schemes, tech support scams, charity fraud, and IRS threats, with older adults disproportionately victimized because they typically have savings and good credit. The article identifies key warning signs—unsolicited contact, artificial urgency, requests for money or personal information, unrealistic offers, and poor communication quality—and advises seniors to verify caller identity independently, never share sensitive information, consult trusted contacts before responding to requests

The Eldercare Locator launched a national "Home for the Holidays" campaign to help older adults and families protect themselves from financial fraud and scams during the holiday season. According to the FBI, scams targeting people age 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with fraud increasing during the holidays due to heightened online shopping and donation appeals that scammers exploit, particularly targeting isolated or lonely individuals. The campaign provides resources to help older adults recognize, prevent, and report financial scams and fraud.

This article announces President-elect Trump's nomination of former NFL player Scott Turner to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), based on Turner's prior experience as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump's first administration. Turner's previous work overseeing 16 federal agencies resulted in over $50 billion in private investment through Opportunity Zones, which funded affordable housing, clean technology, and community revitalization projects. The nomination has been supported by former HUD Secretary Ben Carson and Senator Tim Scott, with the Senate Banking Committee expected to consider the nomination.

This article announces The Assembly Caribbean 2024, a virtual anti-financial crime conference hosted by ACAMS on December 5-6, 2024, featuring over 40 experts and regulatory officials addressing compliance challenges in the Caribbean region. The conference will cover fraud risks including elder fraud, romance scams, and "pig butchering" schemes, alongside discussions of money laundering, sanctions enforcement, virtual assets regulation, and the fentanyl crisis. The event aims to provide compliance professionals with practical strategies to detect financial crimes and implement effective anti-money laundering measures tailored to the Caribbean's unique AFC landscape.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has joined a multi-sector national task force convened by the Aspen Institute to develop a comprehensive strategy for preventing fraud and scams. FinCEN will participate in working groups alongside financial services, technology companies, consumer advocacy groups, and federal agencies to create cross-sector recommendations for combating fraud. This initiative expands FinCEN's public-private partnerships in addressing fraud, cybercrime, and illicit finance risks.

A Collin College student, Mark Aiseosa Kadiri, was arrested on November 21, 2024, for operating a financial fraud scheme targeting elderly victims across multiple states, including Virginia and Texas. Investigators found approximately $61,000 in fraudulent funds deposited into his bank account and executed a search warrant at his campus residence to gather additional evidence. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify additional victims and file further charges.

A phishing scam targeting members of the trans community in Washington, D.C. attempted to redirect employee payroll by sending fraudulent emails impersonating workers and requesting banking information changes. At least two individuals—SC Nealy, founder of LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative, and SK Smigiel, a content creator—were targeted, with Nealy falling victim after providing banking details based on a convincing fake email. The scammers reportedly gathered personal information from social media to craft targeted messages, highlighting how phishing scams evolve and exploit vulnerable communities.

Soldiers, veterans, and their family members face multiple growing scams including romance, confidence, and online impersonation fraud, according to Army Criminal Investigation Division officials. Data brokers sell personal information for as low as $20, which scammers use for targeted attacks such as impersonating military officials requesting gift cards, romance schemes targeting those over 50, and social media account takeovers. To protect themselves, individuals should use strong passwords with two-factor authentication, password managers, and separate work and personal accounts.

The IRS and Security Summit partners issued a Cyber Monday alert warning taxpayers to protect personal information from scammers during the holiday shopping season and approaching tax season. Common scams include sophisticated phishing emails impersonating delivery services (tricking victims into clicking malicious links) and fraudulent messages posing as the IRS offering refunds or requesting tax documents, which can lead to identity theft and tax fraud. The alert recommends taxpayers avoid clicking unknown links, verify sender authenticity, and shop only on secure websites (https) to reduce the risk of personal data theft.

This is a weather advisory about wind conditions and is not related to elder fraud, scams, or abuse. It cannot be summarized for the Elderus database as it falls outside the scope of elder fraud research.

Senator Marsha Blackburn warned during a Senate hearing that seniors are increasingly targeted by AI-enabled fraud and scams, with criminals using sophisticated tools like personalized phishing emails and chatbots to deceive consumers at scale. The FTC reported that scams cost Americans $10 billion over the last 12 months, with AI driving much of this increase. Blackburn called for Congress to pass legislation establishing online privacy standards and stronger protections for consumers in the digital space.

Five federal financial regulatory agencies and FinCEN issued guidance to help supervised financial institutions combat elder financial exploitation, noting that older adults can lose their life savings through these crimes. A FinCEN analysis identified approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity linked to elder financial exploitation over a one-year period ending in June 2023. The statement recommends practices including employee training on recognizing exploitation, establishing trusted contact designations, filing timely suspicious activity reports, and coordinating with law enforcement and elder protection services.

The IRS warned taxpayers on December 4, 2024, about fraudulent "Charitable LLCs" schemes that target high-income filers by encouraging them to transfer assets to limited liability companies, donate majority nonvoting units to charities while retaining control, and falsely claim large charitable deductions. Participants in these abusive schemes face assessment of correct taxes owed plus penalties, interest, and potential criminal prosecution, with the IRS currently conducting audits and investigations that have resulted in multiple criminal convictions of promoters and donors. Taxpayers are advised to avoid any scheme promising personal benefits or control over donated assets, as valid charitable contributions require complete relinquishment of control to the

I cannot provide a summary for this content. The text provided is a website navigation menu and header structure from a news website, not an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. To summarize content for the Elderus database, please provide an actual article or transcript that discusses: - Scams targeting older adults - Financial fraud or exploitation - Elder abuse incidents - Fraud awareness/prevention advice Please share the relevant article content, and I'll be happy to create a summary.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is warning small businesses of scam letters impersonating the Secretary of State's Office that demand excessive payments (over $200) for business filings while threatening fines or business dissolution; similar telephone scams targeting Latino businesses have also been reported, with at least 40 complaints received since early November. The fraudulent letters, which include the state seal and publicly available business information to appear legitimate, contain telltale signs of fraud such as Sacramento, California addresses and .org website links instead of official .gov sites. Business owners are advised to verify filing status directly with the Secretary of State and to report suspected scams to the Attorney General's Office.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launched a rulemaking initiative to address how credit reporting harms survivors of domestic violence and elder abuse who were coerced into taking on debt by their abusers. Studies show that nearly three-quarters of domestic violence survivors remain in abusive relationships partly due to coerced debt, with women of color experiencing nearly double the average debt burden; when survivors successfully remove coerced debts from their reports, approximately one-third see credit score improvements of 20 points or more. The CFPB is seeking public input on potential amendments to fair credit reporting regulations to better protect abuse survivors and help them rebuild their financial lives.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission charged Washington State pastor Francier Obando Pinillo with operating a fraudulent multilevel marketing scheme involving digital assets that defrauded at least 1,515 customers, primarily Spanish-speaking members of his church, of at least $5.9 million. Pinillo falsely claimed to operate an automated cryptocurrency trading platform offering guaranteed monthly profits up to 34.9% while actually misappropriating all customer funds and fabricating account statements; he also operated a Ponzi scheme by using later customers' assets to pay earlier investors. The CFTC is seeking restitution, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil penalties, trading

Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested in Texas in December 2023 on 14 counts of wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.3 million. Using fake profiles under variations of the name "Giovanni" on dating websites like Match and Christian Café, Nwadialo posed as a deployed military officer and convinced victims to send money for various false expenses, including military fines, funeral costs, and investment schemes; individual victims lost between $270,000 and $2.4 million.

Scammers target older adults year-round through various schemes including grandchild impersonation, charity fraud, and gift card scams, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting a median loss of $800 for people aged 70-79 and AARP data showing seniors over 50 account for more than half of fraud victims, losing billions annually. The Alzheimer's Association recommends protective strategies such as setting up a "slush fund" of $200-300 for vulnerable seniors (who lose an average of $39,000 per scam victim aged 80+) and establishing bank account alerts to monitor for fraudulent activity.

Brandon Alford, a 47-year-old employee in Washington, Indiana, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for defrauding his employer through a scheme involving a fake company called A&D Distributing LLC. Between December 2017 and January 2023, Alford submitted 25 fraudulent invoices totaling $1,006,500 for machine parts that were never ordered or delivered, while also evading taxes on the fraud proceeds from 2017-2022. He was ordered to pay $1,006,500 in restitution to his employer and $319,793.02 to the IRS.

A 73-year-old Marysville, Washington grandmother was defrauded of at least $20,000 by a scammer impersonating MSNBC anchor Ari Melber through a fake Facebook profile, who convinced her to send money for his sick dog and later claimed to be in love with her, even sending a fake engagement ring and AI-generated voice messages. The scammer had manipulated Patricia over four months and nearly convinced her to travel to New York to meet him in person before her family intercepted her during a layover in Portland. The case reflects a broader trend, with the FBI reporting over 101,000 people age 60 and older fell victim

A 73-year-old Marysville, Washington woman lost at least $20,000 to a romance scam involving an imposter posing as MSNBC anchor Ari Melber on a fake Facebook profile. Over four months, the scammer convinced Patricia that they were in love and would marry, sent her a counterfeit ring, and manipulated her into sending money by claiming his dog was dying and he lacked access to funds; the situation escalated when she boarded a plane to New York to meet him, prompting her family to intercept her during a layover. The case highlights a broader problem: the FBI reported over 101,000 people aged

Two Irish brothers, Patrick and Matthew McDonagh, were sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud targeting elderly homeowners across the United States. The scheme involved falsely claiming homes needed urgent repairs (roof holes, foundation damage) and pressuring victims to write checks; one Shoreline, Washington homeowner lost $435,000, while victims in Oregon, Illinois, and Bellevue lost an additional $798,000 combined. The defendants have agreed to pay over $1 million in restitution to their victims.

Irish brothers Patrick and Matthew McDonagh were sentenced to 18 months in prison for defrauding elderly homeowners across the country of over $400,000 through a roofing and foundation repair scam. The pair traveled nationally approaching elderly homeowners, falsely claiming urgent repairs were needed, then pressured victims into writing multiple checks for unnecessary or fake work; in one Shoreline case, they stole $435,000 from a single homeowner before the scheme was uncovered. The defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to pay over $1 million in restitution to victims in Washington, Oregon, and Illinois.

This article is a weather advisory and is not relevant to elder fraud research. It contains no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or related topics that would be appropriate for the Elderus database.

**Type:** Educational Advisory **Source:** CFTC Customer Advisory (December 18, 2024) The Commodity Futures Trading Commission released an advisory urging Americans to make "spotting scams" a 2025 New Year's resolution, as scammers are stealing billions through relationship investment fraud targeting those seeking trading education, wealth growth, or companionship. The advisory recommends three key resolutions: be cautious about trusting online sources (since fraudsters use fake profiles, websites, and testimonials), limit personal information shared on social media, and invest in learning about legitimate trading and market risks. The CFTC emphasizes that any investment promising easy

Patrick and Matthew McDonagh, two brothers from Co Fermanagh, were sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud against elderly homeowners across the United States. The brothers defrauded victims nationwide by falsely claiming homes needed urgent repairs (roof holes, foundation cracks, driveway work), extracting over $1 million total—including $435,000 from a single Shoreline homeowner through aggressive, daily demands for checks and wire transfers. They have agreed to pay restitution exceeding $1 million to victims in Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and other states.

FinCEN issued an alert warning the public about fraudsters impersonating FinCEN officials or misusing the agency's name, insignia, and authority to perpetrate financial scams, including schemes exploiting beneficial ownership reporting and the Money Services Business Registration tool. FinCEN emphasized that legitimate officials will never threaten, demand immediate payment, or contact people via unsolicited email, call, or text, and urged the public to report suspected impersonation to the Treasury Inspector General, FTC, and FBI. Victims aged 60 and older can report fraud to the Department of Justice's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service warned of a "smishing" scam in which fraudsters send text messages impersonating USPS, claiming packages cannot be delivered and directing recipients to click malicious links (such as https://usps.com-packagesue.net) to confirm address information. The scam aims to steal financial account information, compromise credit reports, and obtain personal data for identity theft or resale. The FCC recommends never clicking suspicious links, deleting fraudulent texts, keeping devices updated with security software, enabling multi-factor authentication, and contacting USPS directly through their official website to verify package status.

An elderly Navy veteran, Larry Cook of Virginia, lost $3.6 million to scammers through fraudulent wire transfers processed by Navy Federal Credit Union and Wells Fargo after suffering a stroke; notably, the bank continued processing 42 transfers totaling $2.3 million even after adult protective services notified them in January 2021 that Cook was a suspected fraud victim. Cook's niece, Janine Williamson, appealed the case after it was dismissed in 2023, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has granted the appeal, scheduling oral arguments for March 2025. Williamson has since advocated for elder fraud protections,

**Summary:** The IRS issued an alert warning seniors about increasingly sophisticated tax scams designed to steal personal information and financial assets through manipulative tactics. The agency advises older Americans to avoid sharing sensitive data with unsolicited callers, verify suspicious communications independently, use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and report fraud to the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-FRAUD-11) or directly to the IRS.

As holiday shoppers complete their purchases, experts warn of increasingly sophisticated scams on social media platforms, particularly delivery package scams where attackers impersonate the postal service to steal credit card information, addresses, and Social Security numbers by creating false urgency. Common tactics also include person-to-person sales schemes on messaging platforms where sellers demand irreversible payments via Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App. Meta has launched new anti-scam tools using artificial intelligence to detect suspicious accounts and alert users on Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, and WhatsApp to help prevent fraud.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that Metropolitan Commercial Bank will pay $10 million to the state as part of a fraud recovery initiative that has collected over $52 million from financial institutions that accepted stolen COVID-19 pandemic unemployment funds. Criminals stole more than $15 million from Washington's unemployment fund in 2020 using fake identities and MovoCash, a fintech company sponsored by Metropolitan, which failed to implement adequate anti-fraud and money-laundering safeguards. This marks the second phase of Ferguson's investigation—the first to pursue fintech companies through state consumer protection laws—following an initial phase that recovered $42 million from 26 financial institutions through asset forfeiture.

Violent crime against seniors in the United States increased 331% over the past decade, prompting a comprehensive safety analysis of all 50 states across seven categories including scams, violent crime, property crime, falls, and healthcare access. New Jersey ranked as the safest state for retirement with low elder fraud and violent crime rates, while East Coast states dominated the top 10; conversely, Western states like Colorado, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon ranked as the least safe due to high property crime, elder fraud, and limited police presence. The research reveals a significant shift in retirement planning priorities, with older adults now prioritizing security alongside traditional factors.

Violent crime against seniors in the United States increased 331% over the past decade, prompting a shift in retirement planning toward safety considerations. Seniorly's analysis of FBI data and federal statistics identified New Jersey as the safest state for older adults to retire, followed by New York and Mississippi, while Colorado and Western states (Nevada, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico) ranked as the most dangerous due to high rates of elder fraud, property crime, and violent crime. The safest states were characterized by strong police presence, lower elder fraud rates, and better healthcare access, with East Coast states dominating the top 10.

As holiday shoppers complete their gift purchases, experts warn of increasingly sophisticated scams targeting consumers on social media platforms, particularly delivery package scams where attackers impersonate postal services to steal credit card information and personal data. Meta has launched a new anti-scams awareness campaign with AI-powered detection tools across Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, and WhatsApp to alert users to suspicious accounts and transactions, while security experts advise against person-to-person payments via third-party apps like Venmo and Zelle that cannot be reversed. These scams evolve seasonally and across multiple platforms, making collaboration between tech companies and law enforcement critical to combating fraud.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office warned the public about scammers impersonating deputies, specifically claiming to be "Deputy Tony Androns" and requesting return calls to 724-409-8449 regarding a "confidential matter." This was the second such impersonation scam targeting the area within a month, and officials emphasized that law enforcement never calls to collect money. Residents who receive these calls are urged to contact their local police department.