Explore the Archive

Joanne Stainer, 79, lost approximately $2,000 to airline ticket scammers who charged her card multiple times in small increments when she called 411 seeking to book a last-minute flight to Wisconsin for her husband's funeral in June. After receiving a fraudulent confirmation code from someone posing as an Allegiant Airlines representative, Stainer was able to check bags and pass through TSA with a fake ticket, but was denied boarding at the gate when the airline's system finally flagged the fraudulent purchase. Allegiant Airlines confirmed the ticket was purchased through a third-party vendor flagged for previous fraud, but the late-day booking prevented their system from catching it

Following severe storms in Janesville, Wisconsin, city officials warned residents about "storm chaser" contractors who exploit disaster damage by offering poor-quality repairs, demanding upfront payments, and then disappearing. Residents are advised to verify contractor credentials, seek recommendations from trusted sources like neighbors and insurance agents, and contact the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection if they encounter suspicious contractors or wish to file complaints.

Wisconsin officials are warning about "financial grooming scams" where scammers build trust through dating apps and text messages before pressuring victims to invest in cryptocurrency schemes. In the past year, 22 Wisconsin residents lost $2.3 million to this scam, which targets people across all professions and educational backgrounds by using manipulative tactics and international crime organization scripts. Warning signs include unsolicited contact, requests to move conversations off dating apps, bragging about easy investment returns, and pressure to invest in cryptocurrency, with victims advised to report and preserve all communications with authorities.

A 79-year-old Central Florida woman missed her husband's funeral in Wisconsin after falling victim to an airline scam while attempting to book a last-minute flight from Orlando-Sanford International Airport. The scam was sophisticated enough to initially deceive the airline itself as well. The woman had to rebook her travel separately after a medical emergency prevented her from joining her family on their originally scheduled June 1 flight to attend her late husband's funeral service.

A 79-year-old Florida woman lost approximately $2,000 to a flight booking scam and was prevented from boarding a flight to her husband's funeral in Wisconsin after scammers posing as an Allegiant Airlines representative charged her card multiple times for a fraudulent ticket. Although Stainer received a fake confirmation code and was able to check in luggage and pass through TSA with a boarding pass, the airline's fraud detection system only flagged the fraudulent third-party purchaser after she arrived at the gate, preventing her from boarding. Allegiant acknowledged the scam occurred when she booked the same day as departure, stating their system would have caught the fraud had the ticket been purchase

**Summary:** Timothy Bartlett, 69, of Deltona, Florida, was arrested for defrauding a Tampa-area nonprofit organization of $5,000 by falsely posing as a cancer patient named "Sally Holmes" seeking living expense assistance. Investigators discovered Bartlett had perpetrated the same scam against at least four other nonprofits in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Wisconsin that provide financial aid to cancer patients.

The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau provided tips to help consumers avoid hotel reservation scams during peak spring and summer travel booking season. Jim Temmer, president of the Wisconsin BBB, shared guidance on how to prevent falling victim to online hotel booking fraud.

John F. Clarke, 55, a Des Moines man who targeted single women on dating sites by posing under aliases and gaining access to their phones and credit to purchase and resell electronics, was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison in Black Hawk County for probation violations connected to felony theft and lottery theft charges, with additional cases pending in other counties. Clarke had an extensive criminal history spanning decades with nearly two dozen felonies, and his arrest in December came after victims reported him on social media and law enforcement discovered he had expanded his scheme to multiple states including Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

This article warns about Memorial Day-period scams targeting military members and veterans. A Wisconsin small business owner lost $166,515 to a fraudster impersonating an MBDA procurement director who ordered laptops but never paid. The BBB identifies common military-targeted scams including predatory loans, fake rental properties, misleading vehicle sales, fraudulent benefits buyouts, and high-pressure life insurance sales, recommending victims verify businesses, avoid wire transfers, protect their computer information, and research charities thoroughly before donating.

Wisconsin Public Services warned customers of scam calls impersonating the utility company and falsely promising $50 refunds in exchange for credit card information. The scammers exploited knowledge of a company moratorium on service shutoffs, but WPS clarified that it never requires credit card information to issue refunds or credits, which are automatically applied to bills or mailed directly to customers. Customers with questions were urged to call WPS directly at 800-450-7260.

Scammers are using automated voice messages impersonating banks to trick customers into revealing sensitive financial information like debit card and account numbers. Recent incidents in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ohio targeted customers of Wayne Bank, banks in Madison, and Brookville National Bank with fake security breach alerts designed to prompt account reactivation. The advisory warns customers never to provide financial information over the phone in response to unsolicited calls and to independently verify such requests by contacting their bank directly.

A 37-year-old Illinois man, Ligneshkumar Patel, was charged with stealing $148,000 in gold Krugerrand coins from a 73-year-old Edwardsville woman in March 2024 after scammers posing as PayPal convinced her to purchase the coins with her retirement funds and hand them over to him. Patel, arrested in Wisconsin while attempting to scam another victim, served as the middleman in the scheme and faces two felony counts. Police Chief Michael Fillback warned that such scams targeting vulnerable individuals through fake identity fraud alerts and high-pressure tactics demanding immediate payment have become increasingly common, and advised victims

The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau launched an online Scam Survivors Toolkit to help people who have fallen victim to scams by providing personalized step-by-step guidance based on the type of scam and payment method involved. The tool aims to reduce stigma around scam victimization and encourage reporting, as individual reports help the BBB alert the broader community to prevent future incidents.

The Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin launched a new online resource on May 9th in recognition of the first "National Scam Survivor Day," designed to support individuals impacted by scams. The initiative encourages scam survivors to report their experiences and share their stories to help educate and protect others from similar fraud.

A Facebook phishing scam using posts with messages like "It Won't Be The Same Without Him" is circulating in Minnesota and Wisconsin, tricking users into clicking malicious links by exploiting emotions and the assumption that a friend has died. When clicked, the scam compromises Facebook accounts, allowing scammers to steal personal information and spread the scam to the victim's friends through fraudulent posts and tags. Users who fall victim should immediately reset passwords, check privacy settings, remove suspicious friends, run antivirus software, and report the malicious links to Facebook.

This article is not about elder fraud or abuse, but rather political controversy surrounding a 2024 Wisconsin Senate candidate. While it mentions a lawsuit alleging elder abuse and negligent death at a retirement home, the article's primary focus is on political accusations and the candidate's disputed claims about nursing home voters, not on documenting an actual scam or fraud scheme affecting elders. **Note for Elderus database:** This item does not meet the criteria for inclusion as it addresses political commentary rather than documented elder fraud, scams, or abuse cases with clear victim impact or scheme details.

This article is not relevant to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse research. It describes a Wisconsin Department of Transportation highway construction project involving median lane closures and pavement repairs on Highway 18/151, expected to complete by mid-June. This is general infrastructure news and falls outside the scope of Elderus, which focuses on fraud and exploitation of elderly individuals.

An elderly woman in Dane County nearly lost $30,000 to a scammer posing as an IRS agent who claimed her money was involved in criminal activity and demanded cash as proof of innocence. Police arrested a 23-year-old man from Chicago after an anonymous tip led them to intercept him as he traveled back with the stolen funds. Law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin are warning residents that such IRS impersonation scams are common and particularly effective against elderly individuals, and recommend victims contact their financial institutions and discuss suspicious requests with trusted contacts before providing money or personal information.

A 23-year-old Chicago man was arrested in Verona, Wisconsin after nearly defrauding an elderly woman of $30,000 through a tech support scam. The suspect posed as an IRS agent after the victim received a fake virus warning on her computer, was directed to call fake "Apple Support," and was told she needed to withdraw cash to prove she wasn't involved in criminal activity. Police arrested the suspect after receiving an anonymous tip and conducting surveillance of the victim's residence.

A 23-year-old Chicago man was arrested in Verona, Wisconsin after defrauding an elderly woman of $30,000 through a tech support scam. The victim received a pop-up warning about a computer virus, called the provided "Apple Support" number, and was told to withdraw cash and give it to an IRS agent to prove her innocence, with promises of repayment. Police recovered the full $30,000 and arrested the suspect on theft by false representation charges.

The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau issued an alert about "can you hear me?" phone scams, where callers immediately ask that question to record a "yes" response for fraudulent purposes. Scammers use the recorded affirmation to authorize unauthorized purchases, target consumers with future scams, or extract personal information by impersonating banks, government agencies, and insurance companies. The BBB recommends screening calls with caller ID, hanging up on unfamiliar callers, joining the Do Not Call Registry, and monitoring financial statements.

Tech support scammers use fake pop-up warnings claiming a computer is locked or infected to frighten users into calling fraudulent support numbers, where victims may lose money, install malicious software, or divulge personal information. The FBI and FTC report these scams are generating record profits, though one Wisconsin woman avoided financial loss by immediately shutting down her computer and seeking help from a trusted IT professional. To avoid these scams, users should never call numbers on security pop-ups, never grant remote access to strangers, and instead contact trusted tech support or use security best practices like two-factor authentication and regular software updates.

Governor Evers signed Senate Bill 628 into law to address financial exploitation of vulnerable adults in Wisconsin. Representative Jerry O'Connor highlighted that financial abuse of vulnerable adults is prevalent, with surveys indicating that approximately two-thirds of such abuse is perpetrated by someone close to the victim.

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud and scams in the previous year, with Wisconsin alone experiencing more than 7,000 complaints resulting in $92 million in losses. The FBI has released a list of common fraud warning signs including cryptocurrency investment schemes, impersonation of banks or government agencies, tech support scams, romance scams, and cash withdrawal schemes to help consumers identify if they may be targeted. Victims or those who suspect fraud are encouraged to report incidents to IC3 at www.ic3.gov.

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported over $12.5 billion in total fraud losses nationally in 2023, with Wisconsin accounting for 7,683 complaints and $92 million in losses. The FBI Milwaukee field office released a list of common fraud alert questions to help consumers identify potential scams, including cryptocurrency and investment fraud, impersonation of banks or government agencies, tech support scams, romance scams, and cash-for-gift-card schemes. Consumers who suspect they have been targeted are encouraged to file complaints at www.ic3.gov.

The city of Chetek, Wisconsin recovered $2.6 million stolen in a phishing scam where fraudsters impersonated a contractor for the city's wastewater treatment plant project and redirected a wire transfer to a fake account in November. The city borrowed funds to continue construction while investigating, then successfully recovered the full amount by March 1st after contacting law enforcement and the FBI. Chetek subsequently enhanced its security measures and employee training, joining other Wisconsin communities that have fallen victim to similar contractor impersonation scams in recent years.

This educational piece from La Crosse, Wisconsin highlights the escalating prevalence of online scams leveraging social media, email, and mobile applications to exploit vulnerable individuals. Experts advise consumers to be skeptical of official-looking websites and too-good-to-be-true offers, avoid unusual payment methods like wire transfers and gift cards, and remain informed about scam tactics, as victims often experience significant financial and emotional consequences.

AARP Connecticut is launching a new educational series to address the growing complexity of scams targeting older adults, with 400 different scam types reported in 2022. Seniors are frequently targeted because they tend to have more financial resources, and losses can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with emotional and psychological impacts extending beyond financial harm. The free online series will cover topics including artificial intelligence and voice cloning scams, with a Connecticut man recently indicted for defrauding Wisconsin seniors of $200,000 through grandparent impersonation scams.

AARP Wisconsin's Senior Program Specialist Courtney Anclam discusses the prevalence of scams targeting elderly individuals and strategies to protect seniors from fraud. The segment highlights that elderly people are frequent targets of scammers and emphasizes AARP's efforts to address and prevent elder fraud.

On October 16, 2025, AARP Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Elder Justice Coalition hosted a Scam Jam educational event at UW-Green Bay to inform attendees about current fraud schemes and connect them with anti-fraud professionals. The event featured a resource fair with multiple Wisconsin organizations dedicated to combating elder fraud, including AARP's Fraud Watch Network, the Better Business Bureau, state consumer protection agencies, and victim support services, all providing free educational materials, complaint filing assistance, and community presentations.

The FBI reports that cryptocurrency ATM scams resulted in nearly $250 million in losses in 2024, more than double the previous year, with scammers primarily using romance, impostor, and financial scams to trick victims into depositing money. An 85-year-old woman in Wisconsin was approached by police while being manipulated into depositing tens of thousands of dollars into a Bitcoin ATM after being told her bank account was hacked. Iowa's investigation found that 97% of crypto ATM transactions were scams, with victims losing over $20 million in less than three years, while companies operating these machines profit by taking up to 23% per transaction.

**Scam Jam Educational Event - October 16, 2025** AARP Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Elder Justice Coalition hosted a Scam Jam awareness event at UW-Green Bay to educate attendees about current scams and connect them with fraud-fighting professionals. The event featured a resource fair with multiple Wisconsin organizations including AARP's Fraud Watch Network, the Better Business Bureau, state consumer protection agencies, and local support services, all offering free fraud prevention information, complaint filing assistance, and community presentations.

Wisconsin Rapids police warned of a surge in scams targeting older residents, with victims losing tens of thousands of dollars through schemes where fraudsters impersonated government officials and banks via unsolicited calls, emails, and texts to convince victims to transfer funds via cryptocurrency or gift cards. Notable cases included a $600,000 Bitcoin conversion, a $30,000 Bitcoin ATM deposit, and a $14,000 cash handoff, with authorities noting that cryptocurrency transfers and overseas origins make these scams difficult to trace. Police advised residents that legitimate agencies never demand payment in Bitcoin, gift cards, or cash, and urged potential victims to verify requests through trusted sources and contact law enforcement before sending money.

Wisconsin Rapids Police reported a surge in financial scams targeting older residents, with victims losing between $14,000 and $600,000. Scammers posing as government officials or banks pressured victims via unsolicited calls, emails, and texts to transfer money through cryptocurrency wallets or gift cards, with one victim's $600,000 quickly converted to Bitcoin and sent overseas. Authorities advise that legitimate organizations never demand payment in Bitcoin, gift cards, or cash, and urge residents to verify requests through trusted sources before sending money.

Wisconsin Rapids Police warned of a surge in scams targeting older residents, in which victims were deceived by fraudsters posing as government officials or banks via unsolicited phone calls, emails, and texts and pressured to move money into cryptocurrency wallets or gift cards. Notable cases included one resident losing $600,000 converted to Bitcoin and sent overseas, another depositing $30,000 into a Bitcoin ATM, and a third handing $14,000 in cash directly to a scammer. Police advised residents that legitimate government agencies and businesses never demand payment in Bitcoin, gift cards, or cash, and urged victims to verify requests through trusted sources and contact law enforcement before sending money.

Ankurkumar Patel, a Brookfield man, was indicted on money laundering charges for his role in a "phantom hacker scheme" that defrauded elderly victims across multiple states by posing as customer service and law enforcement agents to trick victims into transferring funds. Patel allegedly personally retrieved over $1 million from victims and conspired to launder the money through anonymous transactions, with one victim from Sheboygan identified in the case. He faces up to 20 years imprisonment and fines up to $500,000 if convicted on the money laundering conspiracy charge.

Multiple Milwaukee food truck operators were targeted by scammers who posed as event organizers and demanded vendor fees ($500 per incident) via peer-to-peer payment apps to secure spots at festivals and events that often did not exist. Once victims sent money through these apps, the funds were generally unrecoverable, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection advised vendors to verify events independently and avoid unsolicited communications before making payments.

Wisconsin consumers on government assistance programs are being targeted by scammers, particularly during Medicare open enrollment (starting October 15th) with calls offering new Medicare cards or claiming to be healthcare providers seeking sensitive information. A fraudulent app targeting SNAP recipients was shut down after charging users $4.99 monthly or up to $60 for lifetime access, while the legitimate EBT Edge app is free; consumers should never pay for government benefit apps and should only share Medicare numbers when initiating the call themselves.

Two sushi restaurant owners in Brevard County, Florida were accused of running a tech support scam that victimized elderly people across the country, with victims tricked into purchasing gift cards and wiring money after receiving fake computer warning messages. The investigation, which began in Wisconsin in 2023, resulted in the couple's arrest in late June, with one documented victim being a 76-year-old man who lost $14,300 (through $4,300 in gift cards and a $10,000 wire transfer to California).

The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau warns that investment and cryptocurrency scams are the most prevalent frauds targeting adults 55 and older. The BBB recommends being cautious of phone fraud with spoofed caller IDs, avoiding pressure to act immediately, and verifying unusual claims by calling official sources directly rather than trusting the caller's information.

AARP hosted a "Scam Jam" educational event at Oak Creek Community Center in Wisconsin to help residents identify and prevent fraud. The event featured Tony Lup sharing his personal experiences being targeted by multiple scams including prize/trip offers and fake emergencies, emphasizing that anyone can be victimized but everyone can protect themselves by following advice like verifying unexpected calls and hanging up on suspicious requests.

A widow named Kathy Stevens (pseudonym) lost $500,000 to a romance scam after meeting a man on a dating app who claimed to be an Italian-Australian scuba diver and oil rig worker with properties in Florida and Wisconsin. Over the course of their online relationship, the scammer built trust through daily conversations and a video call before requesting money, exploiting Stevens's loneliness following her husband's death. The case illustrates the vulnerability of grieving seniors to romance fraud schemes that use fabricated personas and emotional manipulation.

Police and the Better Business Bureau are warning Wisconsin residents about a "sextortion" email scam in which fraudsters claim to have compromising video footage and demand approximately $2,000 in bitcoin, using publicly available personal information like phone numbers, addresses, and home photos to appear credible. The scammers, typically located in Africa, threaten to send the alleged videos to the victim's contacts unless payment is made; authorities advise recipients to ignore the emails and report them rather than respond, as the scammers will move on to other targets if no payment is received.

A scam targeting parents of University of Wisconsin-Madison students involved fraudsters impersonating UWPD officers, calling at night (between 2-3 a.m.) and claiming their child had been detained, demanding money for release. Madison Police Department received at least three reports of the scam calls, which used real officer names to appear credible, exploiting the fear and disorientation of parents awakened in the middle of the night.