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The 3rd Annual Senior Legal Safety Conference in Roanoke, Virginia brought together experts to educate seniors on critical planning decisions including powers of attorney, medical directives, and end-of-life care. The conference highlighted major threats to seniors including fraud, scams, and Medicare fraud, which costs Virginia approximately $2 billion annually, with attendees learning how to recognize double billing, verify charges, and protect their personal information. The sponsoring organization also began offering Medicare Open Enrollment counseling sessions to help seniors navigate this complex process with fewer mistakes and financial losses.

A 10-person scam ring operating near Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia defrauded hundreds of Navy Federal Credit Union customers out of approximately $2 million between 2023 and 2025. The scammers, using aliases like "Wildboy," "Fatty," and "Jizzle," targeted military-age individuals in public spaces, convincing them to surrender their phones under false pretenses, then used the devices to illegally transfer funds, submit fraudulent loans, and steal personal information—sometimes using threats, physical force, or firearms. Within eastern Virginia alone, 500 victims reported the scheme, leading to federal indictments against all 10 defendants on charges including bank

West Virginia University's Information Technology Services warns faculty, staff, and students to be cautious of unsolicited job offers and credential-soliciting messages via email, phone, or text, noting that ITS will never contact users by text to verify information or request login details. Legitimate job opportunities are posted on jobs.wvu.edu (employees) and Handshake (students), and users should report suspicious communications to the ITS Service Desk or forward suspicious emails to [email protected], changing their password immediately if they have already disclosed personal information.

A Maryland man named James Smith, 30, of Gaithersburg was arrested after scamming a 90-year-old Culpeper, Virginia woman out of $26,000 in a sophisticated scheme involving impersonation of U.S. Treasury Department agents who threatened her with criminal charges unless she provided cash. Smith was charged with money laundering, conspiracy to commit felony, and obtaining money by false pretenses, and is being held without bond.

Virginia reported nearly 4,000 residents aged 60 and older lost over $106.6 million to fraud in 2024, ranking the state 11th nationally in elder fraud losses, though actual cases likely far exceed reported figures. Common scams targeting seniors exploit their fixed incomes and fears through impersonation schemes (like fake Microsoft or bank calls), with experts recommending victims never share personal information with unknown contacts and verify requests through official channels. Professionals emphasize that fraud can affect anyone regardless of experience, and encourage open communication and consultation with trusted individuals rather than hiding shame about becoming a victim.

An 80-year-old Gaithersburg resident lost over $26,000 in a government impersonation scam where fraudsters falsely claimed to be U.S. Treasury Department agents demanding payment to avoid criminal charges. James Smith, 30, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was arrested in Culpeper County when he arrived to collect an additional $10,000 that authorities had arranged as part of an undercover operation, and he was charged with money laundering, conspiracy to commit a felony, and obtaining money by false pretenses. Authorities indicate the scheme was part of a larger operation intended to send collected funds overseas and warn residents to report suspicious demands for money

Two women—Kimberly VanKline of Maryland and Rhonda Brown-Moore of New York—pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for creating and submitting falsified documents to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief funds, including Paycheck Protection Program loans for a West Virginia resident, with both defendants profiting from the scheme. They each face up to 20 years in federal prison, with sentencing to be determined by a federal judge.

The Washington County Virginia Sheriff's Office warned of a property listing scam in which fraudsters use accurate owner information (name, address, tax ID) to contact realtors and illegally list real properties, particularly farmland, for sale. Local realtors have successfully prevented many attempts by verifying details with actual property owners, and authorities recommend that individuals verify all transaction details and report suspected scams to law enforcement.

A 70-year-old Virginia man lost thousands of dollars in a year-long romance scam in which he believed he was communicating with Canadian actress Amber Marshall on Facebook and messaging app Zangi, ultimately losing money meant for rent. According to Virginia Tech elder mistreatment expert Pam Teaster, seniors are disproportionately targeted by romance scams that exploit loneliness; the FBI reported 17,910 romance scam complaints in 2024 resulting in over $672 million in total losses. The victim is sharing his story to educate others, emphasizing that combating these scams requires both education and addressing societal loneliness among elderly individuals.

Linda Kay Simmons, a 71-year-old Virginia woman, lost approximately $10,000 in a "jury duty" scam in which callers spoofed sheriff's office numbers and falsely claimed she had missed grand jury duty and owed $14,000 in fines to avoid jail. The scammers kept her on the phone for five hours while directing her to withdraw cash and deposit it into a bitcoin machine at a gas station, using psychological manipulation and tracking her location to maintain control. Simmons is now publicly sharing her experience to warn others about the sophistication and psychological tactics used by these scammers.

Brian Alexander Taulton, 57, was arrested in Wake County, North Carolina, and charged with exploiting elderly residents through a driveway repair scam that defrauded victims of approximately $100,000. Taulton allegedly posed as a city worker or offered unsolicited asphalt repair services, collecting upfront payments (including nearly $16,000 from one victim and $18,000 from a 95-year-old) before performing substandard or no work; he is also facing fugitive charges in Virginia for similar crimes. Authorities advise residents to verify credentials, request references, and avoid pressure tactics emphasizing urgency, as elder fraud costs an estimate

Brian Taulton, a West Virginia man, was arrested for defrauding Wake County seniors by approaching their homes and draining their bank accounts, exploiting victims out of tens of thousands of dollars. The case highlights a door-to-door fraud scheme targeting elderly residents in the area.

Brian Taulton, a 56-year-old from West Virginia, was arrested on charges of defrauding North Carolina residents between February 2024 and June 2025 by posing as a Duke Energy employee and driveway repair contractor, stealing approximately $90,000 and attempting to steal an additional $38,600 from elderly and disabled victims. Taulton would knock on doors claiming to have leftover asphalt from nearby jobs, then either perform substandard work or not complete repairs at all, with individual victims losing amounts ranging from $7,000 to $20,000. He faces 22 felony charges related to exploitation and fraud, an

Virginia ranks 11th nationally for elder fraud losses, with nearly 4,000 complaints from residents 60 and older in 2024 resulting in over $16.6 million in losses. Scammers target seniors on fixed incomes through online schemes, including convincing phishing attempts like fake tech support calls. Experts emphasize the importance of online safety awareness to protect vulnerable older adults from fraud.

Charleston Police and Chase Bank hosted a workshop to educate seniors on avoiding scams, as phone, text, and email fraud targeting this population is on the rise both nationally and locally. According to the Federal Trade Commission, West Virginians lost more than $27 million to fraud and scams in the past year, primarily from impostor schemes including EasyPass, jury duty, and romance scams. The workshop emphasized the importance of verifying communications directly with companies or agencies rather than responding to urgent-seeming messages.

Chase Bank and the Charleston Police Department partnered to educate seniors about fraud and scam risks, citing that West Virginia lost over $27 million to fraud in the previous year according to the Federal Trade Commission. The initiative aims to help vulnerable populations, particularly those living paycheck-to-paycheck, avoid financial devastation that could result from having their bank accounts emptied by scammers.

According to the FTC, scammers stole over $150 billion from Americans two years ago, with increasing numbers of older Virginians targeted online. AARP Virginia is hosting a series of webinars to educate seniors on protecting their personal information, noting that AI tools are making scam communications more convincing by eliminating typical red flags like grammatical errors. Upcoming sessions will cover cybersecurity awareness, recognizing online scams, and current scams targeting families, with participation from the Virginia Attorney General's Office.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is warning drivers about a scam involving fraudulent text messages claiming overdue toll charges. The DMV advises recipients never to send personal information via text, avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages, and instead contact the tolling agency directly using verified phone numbers or websites to report suspicious texts.

Following the deaths of two Virginia Beach police officers, the Virginia Beach Police Department is warning the public against donating to potentially fraudulent fundraisers and is urging donors to hold off on financial contributions until an official fund is established. The department is accepting food and household goods through legitimate local community advisory channels to mitigate the risk of scams during this period of community support.

A Virginia woman nearly lost $22,000 in a holiday-season scam, though the amount was ultimately not transferred after a bank questioned the suspicious withdrawal. The Central Virginia Better Business Bureau warns of prevalent phishing scams during the holidays, including fraudulent messages impersonating delivery services and the IRS that attempt to steal personal information or download malware through malicious links. The BBB advises consumers not to click suspicious links, never pay with Bitcoin or gift cards, and remember that legitimate offers that seem too good to be true probably are.

Elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023, with Americans losing $1.6 billion to scams nationally and Virginia residents losing $265 million, according to FBI data. Virginia reported approximately 2,700 elder fraud complaints in 2023, with investment scams being the most common type targeting seniors with regular income by exploiting their loneliness or desire to earn additional money. The FBI emphasizes that scammers are skilled manipulators who deliberately identify and exploit vulnerable elderly individuals.

In May 2023, a 72-year-old Lynchburg, Virginia woman named Marsha Burks had over $8,000 stolen from her credit card by her in-home caregiver. The incident highlights a broader problem: Virginia reported over 2,000 complaints of elder financial fraud in 2023 with victims losing over $90 million. The case prompted the family to advocate for "Larry's Law," which took effect in the state to prevent elder financial abuse by allowing financial institutions to contact emergency contacts when fraudulent charges are suspected.

According to the FBI, financial scams targeting senior citizens are rising, with 80,000 seniors losing $3.1 billion in 2022. The Smyth County Chamber of Commerce hosted an educational event where Virginia's Attorney General and local law enforcement warned seniors about common scams (phone, computer, and mail-based) and emphasized the importance of never sharing personal or financial information unsolicited, as legitimate institutions like banks and the Social Security Administration will never request such details over the phone.

This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It is an educational piece about the FBI Police force—a few hundred sworn law enforcement officers established in the late 1980s who protect FBI personnel, facilities, and information across the Eastern seaboard, particularly in Washington D.C., New York, and West Virginia. The article, published in honor of National Police Week 2024, profiles FBI Police Chief David Sutton and Officer Briana Chapman, describing their training, authority, duties, and community engagement role.

At least four American tourists are facing lengthy prison sentences in Turks and Caicos after ammunition was discovered in their luggage, with one Virginia man potentially facing up to 12 years imprisonment. The Caribbean territory has strict firearms laws that impose mandatory minimum sentences of 12 years for possessing even a single bullet, and a recent court ruling requires tourists to serve prison time if convicted, eliminating the previous option of paying fines and leaving the country. Families of the detained Americans claim the ammunition was brought accidentally, but travelers are now vulnerable to severe penalties for what they describe as unintentional violations.