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justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
A 2025 national health care fraud takedown resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants across 50 federal districts for schemes involving over $14.6 billion in alleged fraud, with 19 individuals charged in Florida's Middle District alone for defrauding Medicare and programs serving elderly and disabled beneficiaries. Key defendants included William Balsamo, charged with operating a telemedicine kickback scheme that caused at least $9 million in Medicare losses, and Edward Cannatelli, Robbyn Cannatelli, Thomas Farese, and Virginia Lockett, charged with conspiracy to defraud Medicare through medically unnecessary physician orders generated via telemarketing
michigan.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michigan participated in the Department of Justice's 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants nationwide involving over $14.6 billion in false billings and 15.6 million illegally diverted controlled substance pills, with $245 million in assets seized. Two Michigan cases were charged: James Alexander Carthron billed Medicaid approximately $11,000 for 23 telephone visits he did not provide, and Daleena Taree Miller billed Medicaid $8,640 for services she did not render and falsified medical records as a Community Living Support worker.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Department of Justice announced charges against over 300 defendants in the largest coordinated healthcare fraud takedown in U.S. history, alleging they defrauded Medicare and private insurance programs of approximately $14.6 billion through unnecessary medical procedures and illegal schemes. Cases included unnecessary skin grafts applied to elderly and terminally ill Medicare patients in Arizona, a transnational catheter fraud operation involving Russian-based criminals who filed $10.6 billion in fraudulent Medicare claims using stolen identities, and the illegal distribution of 15 million prescription opioid pills by medical professionals and pharmacies. The DOJ established a new "fusion center" to consolidate data and combat healthcare fraud, which represents
wispolitics.com
· 2025-12-08
The article discusses how military personnel are frequently targeted by scammers and identity thieves who exploit the military community's unique circumstances, with documented losses exceeding $584 million in 2024. July is designated as Military Consumer Protection Month to raise awareness about fraud targeting service members. The full article content is restricted behind a subscription paywall.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
**Event:** Kolkata Police organized a cyber awareness session under their Pronam initiative that attracted approximately 500 senior citizens to learn about digital fraud prevention.
**Content & Key Advice:** The session included live demonstrations and Q&A discussions on phishing scams, identity theft, and social engineering tactics. Experts provided practical guidance including: not sharing personal information with strangers, keeping social media profiles locked, verifying email links before clicking, using the helpline number 1930 to report fraud attempts, and recognizing red flags in suspicious calls (such as late-night calls from supposed bank officials).
**Participant Experiences:** Several attendees shared near-miss experiences with sc
islandsweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
Medicare scams cost billions annually by targeting older adults through unsolicited calls, texts, and online ads impersonating Medicare or medical providers to obtain Medicare numbers, which scammers then use to fraudulently bill Medicare for services or equipment never received. Victims face risks including denied coverage, identity theft, financial stress, and compromised access to needed healthcare services. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner recommends protecting yourself by never sharing Medicare or Social Security numbers with unsolicited contacts, being skeptical of "free" offers, regularly reviewing statements for suspicious charges, and reporting fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE or your local Senior Medicare Patrol.
hartselleenquirer.com
· 2025-12-08
Sweetheart scams and other fraud schemes target vulnerable populations including seniors aged 61+ and young adults aged 13-28, with elderly victims losing an estimated $77.7 billion globally in 2023 alone. Common scams include imposter schemes, online shopping fraud, investment fraud, and phishing attempts via email, text, and phone. Protection strategies include using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, verifying unsolicited contacts, trusting instincts when something feels suspicious, and reporting suspected scams to the FTC.
vieravoice.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, scams targeting seniors aged 60 and older caused over $3.4 billion in losses—an 11% increase from the previous year—with particularly severe consequences for retirees who struggle to recover stolen life savings and face reduced access to healthcare and housing. Brevard County is combating this epidemic through community initiatives including Scam Jam, a fraud prevention workshop by Helping Seniors of Brevard and AARP's Fraud Watch Network that educates seniors on recognizing scam tactics and identity theft prevention, with over 70 participants graduating from the first session. The article provides warning signs of scams (pressure to act quickly, requests for gift cards or
wired.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Department of Justice dismantled a North Korean government scheme in which citizens impersonated American tech workers to evade sanctions and generate revenue for the Kim regime. The operation involved two arrested Americans who helped steal identities of over 80 U.S. persons, set up "laptop farms" across 16 states to facilitate remote access, and launder salaries through shell companies and bank accounts. Federal authorities seized approximately 200 computers, 21 web domains, and 29 financial accounts linked to the scheme, which had infiltrated more than 100 U.S. companies.
canarianweekly.com
· 2025-12-08
A 48-year-old man from Valle San Lorenzo, Tenerife was arrested for defrauding a woman of over €20,000 through an online romance scam conducted via a dating app. The suspect posed as a police officer to build trust with the victim, then manipulated her into sending money by claiming financial difficulties related to a business venture, ultimately disappearing after receiving the funds. The Guardia Civil's cybercrime unit used digital forensics to identify the suspect, who actually worked as a mechanic and had fabricated his entire identity as part of a premeditated scheme.
themirror.com
· 2025-12-08
Cybersecurity researchers are warning travelers about convincing fake TSA PreCheck websites designed to steal money and personal information, with scammers using AI tools, professional designs, and paid search ads to rank fraudulent sites higher than official government pages. Victims may be charged fake processing fees and have personal data harvested for identity theft or phishing attacks. Experts advise travelers to bypass search results and go directly to the official tsa.gov website, verify the ".gov" domain and padlock security symbol, and avoid clicking top search results that may be malicious advertisements.
businessinsider.com
· 2025-12-08
A Boston business owner discovered scammers using his company's name and AI-generated profile to post fake job listings on LinkedIn, which attracted over twenty applicants before removal. The article reports that AI-enabled scams have quadrupled in the past year, with fraudsters increasingly using deepfakes and AI-generated content to impersonate businesses, employees, and authority figures—including a case where a finance clerk at engineering firm Arup was deceived into approving over $25 million in fraudulent transfers via a video call with deepfake recreations of colleagues. Businesses across multiple industries are struggling to protect themselves and customers as AI lowers barriers to entry for scammers and makes it harder to
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Connecticut couple received a $111.50 toll fine from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority for travel they never made in their 1966 Mustang, becoming victims of "ghost car fraud"—a scam where criminals steal or duplicate license plates and place them on different vehicles to evade tolls. The couple's appeal was initially denied despite photo evidence showing a modern vehicle (not their classic Mustang) bearing their plates, but the charges were ultimately dismissed after media intervention. This scam is affecting multiple drivers across New York and New Jersey, with victims like Joanne Barbara and Walter Gursky racking up hundreds of dollars in fraudulent tolls and fines.
annarborobserver.com
· 2025-12-08
The Ann Arbor Senior Center is offering a series of free educational talks for seniors throughout July, including sessions on fraud and scams (July 2), Alzheimer's and dementia research (July 16), brainpower enhancement (July 23), data breaches and technology (July 25), and retirement savings (July 30). Several sessions include complimentary light lunches, and preregistration is required for all events by contacting the center via email or phone.
patch.com
· 2025-12-08
State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel hosted a senior fraud prevention seminar in Bolingbrook, Illinois on July 8 to educate older adults about common scams and financial exploitation tactics. The free two-hour event, held in partnership with local officials and the chamber of commerce, featured presentations on protecting against scams, identity theft, phone spoofing, and fraudulent businesses, including a representative from the Illinois Attorney General's office.
ftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Scammers monitor business hiring announcements on social media to impersonate new employees' supervisors and request urgent favors, such as purchasing gift cards or sharing financial information, exploiting new hires' eagerness to please. Businesses can protect employees by clearly communicating how they will contact staff, explicitly stating they will never request gift cards, and encouraging employees to verify unexpected messages through known contact numbers. Scammers impersonating businesses may violate the FTC's Impersonation Rule and should be reported to ReportFraud.ftc.gov or IdentityTheft.gov.
pennlive.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Service is warning Americans about "brushing" scams, where unsolicited packages containing low-value items are sent to real addresses by third-party sellers seeking to create fake verified reviews and boost their ratings. These deliveries signal that personal information—including names, addresses, phone numbers, and payment details—has been compromised and could be used for identity theft, credit fraud, or phishing attacks. The USPS recommends reporting suspicious packages at USPIS.gov, auditing financial accounts, updating passwords, and monitoring credit reports to protect against further exploitation.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michael Jerome Wright and Cortney Lashea Young of Princeton, Indiana, were sentenced to 12 and 2 years in federal prison, respectively, for operating a mail theft and identity fraud scheme in 2023-2024. The pair stole hundreds of checks totaling $1,857,460.91 in face value by illegally using arrow keys to open USPS collection boxes, and investigators also discovered dozens of stolen credit and debit cards, personal identifying information, and illegal firearms including a "ghost gun" with automatic capabilities in their apartment.
kmbc.com
· 2025-12-08
Wendy Hopkins, a 54-year-old Kansas woman, was charged on July 2, 2025, with 48 counts including identity theft, computer crime, theft, forgery, and mistreatment of an elder person in connection with an alleged fraud scheme at Rockhill Women's Care. Patients of the women's care center who experienced financial fraud between September 2022 and November 2023 are asked to contact law enforcement, though specific details about the victims and amounts stolen were not disclosed. Hopkins' bond was set at $500,000.
mlive.com
· 2025-12-08
Kaushalkumar Chaudhary, 30, from India, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for wire fraud targeting elderly and vulnerable victims, defrauding 14 people of over $500,000. Chaudhary acted as a "money mule" in a scheme where fraudsters posed as FBI agents and government officials, convincing victims their social security numbers had been stolen so they would convert their assets into cash, gold, and silver for "protection." He was arrested in August 2024 when police intercepted him attempting to collect gold and silver from a victim's home, and was ordered to pay $524,947 in restitution.
paloaltoonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Palo Alto police and FBI officials held an educational seminar at Mitchell Park Community Center to help seniors prevent scams, as the nation faced a record $16.6 billion in scam losses in the previous year—a 33% increase. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, led by Deputy Bob Yee, is expanding fraud prevention seminars throughout the region, teaching participants to identify the five most common senior scams involving impersonation: person-in-need/grandparent scams, financial services fraud, government impersonation, tech support scams, and romance scams. Experts advise seniors to hang up on suspicious callers, verify requests by contacting organizations directly, and remember
indianexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Three men from Jharkhand were arrested for operating a phishing and identity theft scam that defrauded a 49-year-old Delhi resident of Rs 10.8 lakh (approximately $13,000 USD) by impersonating a bank and requesting KYC updates via fake links. The sophisticated operation involved spoofed calls, malicious apps to intercept OTPs, and laundering stolen funds through gaming apps and digital wallets using mule accounts and fake SIM cards. Police recovered multiple devices and linked the accused to additional complaints through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
paloaltoonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Palo Alto and Santa Clara County law enforcement hosted educational seminars in spring to help seniors recognize and prevent scams, as the country experienced a record $16.6 billion in scam losses in the previous year—a 33% increase. The top five scams targeting seniors involve impersonation: grandparent scams (fake emergencies using AI voice replication), financial services impersonation, government imposter scams, tech support fraud, and romance scams, with warning signs including rushed calls demanding secrecy and threats. Experts advise seniors to hang up on suspicious calls, verify requests directly with the entity, and remember that legitimate institutions never request sensitive information or demand immediate
dvidshub.net
· 2025-12-08
Between May 2009 and March 2010, U.S. Strategic Command detected a widespread phishing campaign targeting servicemembers who were financial customers of USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union, with fraudulent emails requesting personal information such as Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords, and identification details. Although the emails contained official-looking logos and headers designed to appear legitimate, both financial institutions confirmed they never request such information via email. Stratcom officials urged servicemembers to protect personal information, verify requests through official channels, maintain updated security software, and monitor bank statements for suspicious activity.
cnynews.com
· 2025-12-08
In early July, Wappinger Town Supervisor Joseph D. Cavaccini warned residents of a phishing scam in which fraudsters impersonated Planning and Zoning Department officials using fake email addresses to pressure residents into wire transferring money under the false pretense of being added to Planning Board agendas. Fortunately, no community members fell victim to the scheme; the town clarified it never requests wire transfers or online payments for board agenda placement and urged residents to report suspicious communications to Town Hall.
welivesecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
Employment and recruitment scams cost victims over $264 million in 2024, with "task scams" being a particularly prevalent variant where victims are tricked into paying deposits via cryptocurrency to unlock fake earnings. Task scams use gamification techniques—promising easy money for simple online tasks like clicking buttons—then pressure victims to "level up" their accounts by paying money that disappears permanently. The FBI and FTC report significant growth in these scams, driven by factors including remote work normalization, AI-generated convincing websites, breached personal data, and poor economic conditions making people vulnerable to job opportunities.
wowt.com
· 2025-12-08
Military personnel and veterans are being specifically targeted for scams at twice the rate of civilians, according to the Better Business Bureau, with common schemes including identity theft, loan scams, and romance scams that often employ bait-and-switch tactics and hidden fees to gain access to personal information. The Department of Defense is now offering free credit monitoring and alerts through major credit bureaus to help protect service members from these threats.
livebitcoinnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Michael Zidell lost $20 million in a pig butchering scam that began in January 2023 when a scammer impersonating businesswoman "Carolyn Parker" contacted him on Facebook and convinced him to invest in a fake NFT website over several months. Zidell has sued East West Bank, Cathay Bank, and Citibank for negligence, alleging the banks failed to detect or flag suspicious wire transfers totaling $20 million across multiple accounts and violated anti-money laundering regulations, with the lawsuits also alleging elder abuse under California law.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Con artists posing as government officials scammed a Washington man out of $500,000 by claiming his Social Security Number had been stolen and pressuring him to liquidate his accounts and hand over cash to a supposed federal courier for "safekeeping." At least 47 victims have come forward across Washington State in what authorities believe is part of a much larger scheme that cost Americans $577 million in Social Security imposter scams during 2024 alone. To protect yourself, watch for three red flags—fear-based messaging, artificial urgency, and demands for secrecy—and never act on such claims without verifying directly with official government sources or trusted contacts.
catholicnewsagency.com
· 2025-12-08
A new anti-fraud initiative called "Protecting the Faithful," led by cybersecurity expert Theresa Payton, has been launched to combat rising scams targeting Catholic parishes and followers of Catholic public figures. Scammers are impersonating priests via email soliciting donations and impersonating celebrities like actor Jonathan Roumie on social media, offering fake promises in exchange for money. The campaign distributes educational materials highlighting red flags such as requests to move conversations to encrypted apps, claims of personal backup accounts, and suspicious links, while urging victims to report incidents to local police and the FBI's IC3.gov without shame.
vocal.media
· 2025-12-08
This educational guide advises overseas daters on avoiding romance scams in 2025 by emphasizing the importance of using reputable dating platforms with strong security features, verifying profiles through video calls and reverse image searches, understanding cultural differences, and recognizing red flags such as requests for money, avoidance of video calls, and inconsistent personal details. The article notes that scammers increasingly exploit international daters through sophisticated AI-generated profiles, deepfakes, catfishing, and emotional manipulation, taking advantage of language barriers and physical distance.
shawlocal.com
· 2025-12-08
State Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel and other Illinois elected officials hosted a fraud prevention seminar for seniors to educate them about common scams and financial exploitation tactics. The program covered protection strategies against scams, fraud, identity theft, and phone spoofing, with a presentation from the Illinois Attorney General's Office included.
thegazette.com
· 2025-12-08
A reshipping scam targeting job seekers has resurged, where applicants believe they are hired for remote "warehouse distribution coordinator" positions with attractive salaries ($3,000+) and minimal hours, but are instead asked to share personal information (Social Security cards, driver's licenses) and unknowingly repackage and ship items purchased with stolen credit cards and banking information. The scam provides no actual paychecks while victims become complicit in moving illegally obtained goods, with employment scams ranking second in BBB Scam Tracker reports for 2024. Red flags include requests for personal/financial information, email-only interviews, unrealistic pay-to-work ratios, and the
golocalprov.com
· 2025-12-08
A Boston truck repair company, Middlesex Truck and Coach, discovered that Chase Bank had fraudulently opened an account under its name without identification verification, which was then used by foreign scammers to collect proceeds from victims of "pig-butchering" schemes—elaborate investment scams that defraud victims of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The account was part of a sophisticated international money laundering operation linked to Asian crime syndicates that funnel stolen U.S. funds through fake bank accounts and cryptocurrency, with pig-butchering scams alone generating an estimated $44 billion annually across Southeast Asia and affecting millions of victims worldwide.
foxnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security Administration phishing scams use urgent, alarming messages impersonating government agencies to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or downloading files that steal personal data or install malware. These scams leverage fear and false authority by falsely claiming SSNs are suspended due to serious crimes like money laundering, and often include multiple geographic references and official-sounding details to overwhelm victims into panic-driven action before they can verify the threat.
freepressjournal.in
· 2025-12-08
A 47-year-old doctor in Mumbai was defrauded of ₹3.2 lakh when a scammer impersonated his friend "Roshni Masad" via WhatsApp using a U.S.-based number, claiming to need money for a financial emergency. The victim transferred the funds through bank and UPI details provided by the fraudster before becoming suspicious when an additional ₹1.8 lakh was requested and the voice call verification failed. The Parksite Police registered a case under IT Act Sections 66(C) and 66(D) against the unidentified accused, with investigations ongoing.
spectrumlocalnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau reports that impostors are costing businesses billions of dollars through data theft and fake services, with the FBI documenting nearly $1.4 billion in losses related to data breaches across the United States in 2024. Common red flags include unexpected invoices, requests for gift card or prepaid card payments, and urgent demands to renew licenses or domain names. The BBB recommends businesses implement employee training, verify vendor information, use multi-factor authentication, avoid wire transfers and gift cards, and maintain detailed records to protect against fraud.
wgal.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned of phishing scams in which fraudsters impersonate health insurance fraud investigators to solicit protected health information, medical records, and personal financial details from patients via emails and text messages. The stolen data can be used to commit fraud or medical identity theft. The FBI recommends victims remain suspicious of unsolicited contact, avoid clicking links in suspicious emails, use strong passwords with multi-factor authentication, and verify any communication directly with their health insurance provider.
vermontjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
Black River Good Neighbor Services hosted a "Fraud Awareness" presentation by M&T Bank's senior branch manager Art Randolph on July 17 in Ludlow, Vermont, covering identity theft, common phone scams, check fraud, email impersonation, caller ID spoofing, and strategies for protecting personal information and recognizing fraudulent schemes.
lincolnparishjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
This article by law enforcement veteran Wesley Harris contrasts traditional in-person scams targeting seniors—such as the "found money" handkerchief scheme, driveway paving fraud, and fake bank examiner con—with modern technology-based fraud that operates remotely via text messages, phishing links, and compromised payment cards. Harris illustrates how contemporary scams are more difficult to combat because criminals operate from abroad and are largely beyond law enforcement reach, while noting that victims often fail to report crimes due to embarrassment. The article advises consumers to scrutinize suspicious messages for red flags before clicking links or providing personal financial information.
mirror.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A UK survey of 1,000 adults found that 60% have had to help elderly relatives stay safe online, with 41% believing their older loved ones could be duped by scammers. The study revealed that 26% of older Brits have encountered scams and 21% have been victims of financial fraud, with common unsafe practices including clicking dubious links (68%), answering unknown calls (60%), and using simple passwords (51%). Experts emphasize that digital safety education and family conversations about cyber threats are essential to protecting vulnerable seniors from evolving online scams.
express.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
A UK poll of 1,000 respondents found that 41% of those with older loved ones believe they would fall for a scam if targeted, with 26% of older Brits having already experienced a scam and 21% falling victim to financial fraud. Common risky online behaviors among seniors include clicking suspicious links (68%), answering unknown calls (60%), oversharing personal information (55%), using weak passwords (51%), and poor password management practices such as writing them down or reusing them across accounts. Experts emphasize that online safety education and intergenerational conversations about cyber security are critical to protecting vulnerable older adults from increasingly sophisticated threats.
13abc.com
· 2025-12-08
I don't have enough information to write a summary for the Elderus database based on this content. While one item mentions identity fraud charges against Angus F. Blaze, the snippet lacks essential details such as the victim's age, the amount stolen, the specific fraud method, and the outcome. The other headlines concern weather, homelessness, and drug incidents—none of which relate to elder fraud. Please provide the full article text or a more complete excerpt focused on elder fraud or abuse for an accurate summary.
freep.com
· 2025-12-08
A 56-year-old Michigan woman lost $400 after clicking on a fraudulent Geico phone number in Google search results and unknowingly calling scammers who impersonated the insurance company. The fraudsters obtained her driver's license, VIN, and Social Security number, then instructed her to make a payment via Xfinity using a fake Google Docs form. The victim discovered the scam when she contacted the real Geico and learned no legitimate policy had been created; her bank refunded the $400 pending investigation, though scammers also attempted to contact her adult sons for their personal information.
pcmag.com
· 2025-12-08
Amazon warned customers of a surge in phishing scams ahead of Prime Day (July 8-11), where fraudsters send fake emails claiming Prime membership renewals or requesting purchase verification, attempting to steal login credentials and banking information through fake Amazon login pages. Scammers also use phone calls and spam emails offering fake early deals that redirect users to fraudulent sites, and Amazon emphasized it never requests payment via phone or email outside its official app, website, or stores. Customers can verify legitimate Amazon communications by checking for the Amazon smile logo in email headers and reporting suspected scams to the company.
usatoday.com
· 2025-12-08
Adults over 60 lost over $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, with impersonation, romance, tech support, and emerging "grandparent scams" using AI voice cloning being the most common threats. The article provides six protective practices: avoid unknown calls/texts, never share personal information with unsolicited callers, recognize urgency and emotional manipulation tactics, and refrain from sending money to unknown contacts via any payment method.
bitdefender.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers have used AI-generated deepfake videos of Jennifer Aniston to perpetrate romance fraud for over a decade, with a recent case involving a 43-year-old man from Southampton who sent £200 in Apple gift cards after being manipulated through fake videos and a forged California driver's license. The scam exploited emotional manipulation and false exclusivity claims, using only publicly available photos and free AI tools to create convincing deepfake content. This represents an evolving threat where romance scammers combine classic social engineering with deepfake technology to impersonate celebrities and exploit victims' emotional connections to famous figures.
pa.gov
· 2025-12-08
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed SB 649 into law, establishing third-degree felony charges for using artificial intelligence to create non-consensual deepfakes or voice clones to defraud or harm residents. The law specifically targets AI-generated scams affecting older adults, such as fake grandchild voice impersonations used to extort money, with Pennsylvania's Department of Aging reporting nearly 18,500 financial exploitation cases in FY 2023-24—nearly double the number since 2017. This legislation strengthens protections for Pennsylvania's fifth-largest older adult population by giving law enforcement new tools to prosecute AI-driven fraud schemes.
nzherald.co.nz
· 2025-12-08
As AI advances, traditional scam detection methods like spotting poor spelling and grammar are no longer reliable, according to cybersecurity experts. An Avast survey of 1,001 New Zealand adults found that while 74% worry about older loved ones falling victim to scams and 84% have warned them about online threats, only 53% of seniors actually change their behavior—with common vulnerabilities including writing passwords on paper (44%) and ignoring advice about suspicious links. The most prevalent scams targeting older adults are tech support scams, phishing, and fake invoices, with phone calls remaining a primary entry point for fraud.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Michel Duarte Suarez, a 50-year-old Cuban national, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a scheme from Panama to steal approximately $803,000 from an 82-year-old victim's bank account over four months using forged checks and fraudulent signatures. Suarez and his South Florida-based co-conspirators laundered the stolen proceeds through his Miami company, Online Electronics, with co-conspirators returning 50% of the fraud to Suarez. He faces up to 30 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, plus a mandatory additional two years for aggravated identity theft, with sentencing scheduled for September 29, 2025