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wtoc.com
· 2025-12-08
Xiao Kun Cheung, a 58-year-old Chinese national, was indicted for his role in a multi-state elder fraud conspiracy that defrauded senior citizens (up to age 92) of over $1 million across Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. The scheme involved contacting victims by phone or pop-up messages claiming their computers or accounts were compromised, then convincing them to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars; Cheung was arrested in March while attempting to collect approximately $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia. He faces charges including wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, carrying up to 20 years in federal
punchng.com
· 2025-12-08
**Business Email Compromise and Romance Scam Operation**
Okechukwu Osuji, a 39-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced to eight years in prison for orchestrating a $6 million fraud scheme involving business email compromise and romance scams that victimized organizations and individuals across the United States. Osuji and his co-conspirators impersonated legitimate businesses in electronic communications to trick victims into transferring funds, while also exploiting elderly individuals through romance scams to use them as unwitting "money mules"—including one woman who sent her entire savings and social security checks to someone she believed was her romantic partner. His accomplice
forbes.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI has issued a public service announcement warning of increasing AI-generated scams targeting smartphone users, including deepfake audio and video calls impersonating loved ones, celebrities, and authority figures to commit fraud at scale. The agency advises users to hang up and independently verify caller identity, establish a secret word with family members for emergency verification, and avoid sharing sensitive information with online or phone-only contacts, as AI tools are becoming sophisticated enough that experts may struggle to distinguish authentic from fabricated content.
news4jax.com
· 2025-12-08
Xiao Kun Cheung, 58, was charged in Georgia for operating a multi-state elder fraud scheme that extorted over $1 million from seniors up to 92 years old through phone calls and pop-up messages falsely claiming their accounts were compromised. Cheung convinced victims to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, and buy gold bars under the pretense of government safekeeping, and was arrested attempting to collect $132,000 in gold bars from one victim. The case highlights the broader crisis of elder fraud, with Americans over 60 suffering $3.5 billion in losses in 2023, including $92 million in Georgia alone.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Model Shivankita Dixit lost Rs 99,000 in a "digital arrest" scam where fraudsters impersonating CBI officials contacted her via WhatsApp, falsely accusing her of involvement in human trafficking and drug smuggling, then coerced her into paying money to avoid arrest. Digital arrest scams are a sophisticated cybercrime tactic where scammers impersonate law enforcement, use video calls and fake documents to establish credibility, and exploit victims' fear through false allegations and threats of legal action. Key prevention measures include verifying caller identity through official sources, avoiding disclosure of sensitive information, staying calm under pressure, and reporting suspicious activity to authorities immediately.
losaltosonline.com
· 2025-12-08
Door-to-door contractor Adam Waldrop, 23, was arrested and charged with eight felony counts and one misdemeanor for allegedly scamming at least two Los Altos elderly women out of a combined $4,750 for roofing and garage-door repairs he never performed in February and March 2024. Waldrop, who used at least 13 aliases including Billy Thomas Wilson, also faces additional warrants in Merced and Oregon, and police suspect he is connected to scams in other states.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Ernakulam police arrested a Malappuram resident facilitating a multi-level cyber fraud network operating from the UAE and Cambodia, which defrauded victims of over Rs 80 lakh through fake share trading schemes and "digital arrest" scams. The accused used local "mule accounts" held by young college students to launder stolen money, receiving commissions of Rs 1,500 per lakh transferred, while the kingpin—identified as a Keralite based in Dubai—directed operations remotely with assistance from other handlers. The investigation also uncovered a separate "digital arrest" fraud where an 85-year-old lost Rs 17 lakh after being threatened by scamm
breitbart.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers impersonating actor Johnny Depp on social media have defrauded elderly Americans of millions of dollars through a "pig butchering" scheme, according to 197 FTC complaints targeting primarily victims in their 60s and older. The fraudsters, who often pose as Depp or his manager, manipulate victims through false promises of romance, investment opportunities, or financial assistance, extracting funds via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, and gift cards, with documented losses ranging from $1,700 to $350,000 per victim. The scams employ sophisticated social engineering tactics including deepfake images and instructions to keep communications secret, with particularly vulnerable elderly victims—including those with
propertycasualty360.com
· 2025-12-08
A former California broker pleaded guilty to 90 counts including grand theft, insurance fraud, elder abuse, and forgery after collecting $183,047 in premium payments from 32 victims over 8 years without actually placing their insurance coverage. She was sentenced to three years of formal probation with an order to pay $335,349 in restitution, facing up to 33 years in prison if she violates probation terms.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Brett Barber, a 45-year-old Costa Mesa man, was sentenced to 181 months in federal prison for operating two fraudulent real estate investment schemes that raised over $17 million from investors, including several elderly victims, between May 2019 and October 2021. Barber falsely promised guaranteed returns of 8-10% on house-flipping projects that did not exist, using investor funds instead to pay himself (approximately $2.9 million), co-conspirators, and earlier investors, with estimated losses of at least $7 million. He pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of criminal contempt, with a restitution hearing
consumerfinance.gov
· 2025-12-08
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.
timeslive.co.za
· 2025-12-08
Police arrested Mohoto Mangwejana, 33, for his role in a romance scam in which a former teacher from Limpopo was defrauded of R1.8 million by a Ghanaian national who posed as a romantic partner and business associate. The article details multiple romance scam cases prosecuted in South Africa targeting primarily women, including victims who lost R2 million and over R1 million through fake online relationships on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn. Authorities continue investigating these networks, with several suspects arrested while others remain at large.
straitstimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are particularly devastating for elderly individuals, who are targeted due to perceived wealth, lower technology literacy, and cognitive vulnerabilities including mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Scammers establish fake romantic relationships with lonely older adults, build emotional bonds, and then extract money through fabricated emergencies; victims often continue sending money even when confronted with evidence of deception, similar to cult indoctrination patterns. The case of 79-year-old Alfred illustrates the severity: he lost nearly all his savings to a scammer posing as "Alexa Bliss" and was on the verge of selling his house before his son intervened.
cbc.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto resident lost $355,000 in a romance scam that began on Facebook in June 2021, when a scammer posing as "Moshe Theodor McNigh" convinced them to invest in cryptocurrency through a fraudulent website. Following a three-year international investigation involving Canadian and Nigerian authorities, a suspect was arrested in Nigeria and $225,000 of the victim's funds were recovered through Nigerian court orders. The case highlights the prevalence of cryptocurrency investment fraud, which accounted for over 50 percent of the $309 million in reported investment fraud losses in Canada in 2023.
wdrb.com
· 2025-12-08
During the holiday season, scammers are impersonating U.S. Postal Service representatives via text messages, claiming packages are held and directing recipients to click links and enter credit card information to claim delivery. The USPS confirmed these texts are fraudulent and warns consumers never to click unfamiliar links or provide personal/financial information in response to unsolicited messages. Additionally, counterfeit stamps sold at significant discounts (20-50% off) on social media and e-commerce sites are circulating, and law enforcement recommends deleting suspicious texts and reporting them to local post offices.
outlooknewspapers.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article outlines why seniors are targeted by financial scammers—they typically have substantial liquid assets, low credit card debt, and high credit scores that fraudsters exploit to open unauthorized accounts. The piece identifies common scam types (impersonation, grandparent scams, health fraud, disaster relief scams, and delivery scams) and warning signs (demands for untraceable payments via gift cards or wire transfers, urgent threats, and requests for personal information), then provides protective measures including never sharing login credentials, avoiding suspicious links, using strong passwords, and being cautious about unsolicited calls and messages.
timesnownews.com
· 2025-12-08
Former Miss India Shivankita Dixit lost Rs 99,000 in a "digital arrest" scam after fraudsters impersonating CBI officials falsely accused her of human trafficking and drug smuggling via WhatsApp, coercing her into immediate payment. Digital arrest scams exploit fear and urgency by using fake documents and credible-seeming video calls to convince victims they face legal action unless they pay fines. To stay safe, victims should verify caller identity through official sources, never share sensitive information, remain calm under pressure, consult trusted contacts, and report suspicious activity to police immediately.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Online stock trading and investment scams in Odisha increased dramatically, with victims rising from 105 in 2022 to 18,994 in 2023, and 40,270 cases reported through November 2024. Scammers typically contact victims via WhatsApp and Telegram with promises of quick profits, initially providing fake returns to build trust before soliciting larger investments. Experts attribute the surge to victims' greed for quick gains, lack of digital literacy, and insufficient knowledge of cyber security risks.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
· 2025-12-08
A 67-year-old woman and her two daughters in Hyderabad were held under fake "digital arrest" via Skype for 17 days by fraudsters impersonating TRAI, CBI, and RBI officials, who coerced the woman into transferring 5.5 crore rupees through false claims of money laundering involvement. The family discovered the scam on December 8 when they visited the CBI office to recover funds and found all documents were counterfeit. The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau registered an FIR and launched an investigation into what appears to be an organized fraud operation.
doddfrankupdate.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple federal regulatory agencies have heightened focus on financial abuse of older adults, with a FinCEN analysis identifying approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity linked to elder financial exploitation over a one-year period ending June 2023. The FTC announced nearly $500,000 in redress to 470 consumers harmed by Vivint Smart Homes, which misused their credit information to fraudulently obtain financing by using similar names or adding unauthorized cosigners, with average payments of $1,056 per victim. Federal agencies are issuing joint guidance on risk management practices to combat elder financial exploitation and its devastating impact on seniors' savings and quality of life.
autoremarketing.com
· 2025-12-08
Five federal financial regulatory agencies and FinCEN issued guidance to banks, credit unions, and auto finance companies on combatting elder financial exploitation, noting that a FinCEN analysis found approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity linked to elder financial exploitation over a one-year period ending June 2023. The statement recommends risk management practices including employee training, transaction monitoring, establishing trusted contact designations, filing suspicious activity reports, and coordinating with law enforcement and elder fraud prevention networks to identify and prevent exploitation of older adults.
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 58-year-old man, Xiao Kun Cheung, was indicted for his role in a multi-state scheme that defrauded elderly victims out of more than $1 million, targeting seniors in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee through phone calls and pop-up messages falsely claiming their computers or financial accounts were compromised. Cheung convinced victims to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars for "safekeeping," and was arrested in March attempting to collect $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia. He faces up to 20 years in prison and financial penalties upon conviction, reflecting a broader crisis where seniors lost over $3
wsbtv.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Xiao Kun Cheung, a 58-year-old deported Chinese national, was indicted in September for his role in a multi-state elder fraud conspiracy targeting seniors in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. The scheme involved fraudsters contacting elderly victims via phone or pop-up messages claiming their accounts were compromised, then convincing them to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars for "safekeeping"; Cheung was arrested in March attempting to collect $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia. According to the FBI, seniors lost over $3.5 billion to fraud in 2023, with Georgia victims alone losing
citizen.co.za
· 2025-12-08
A Ghanaian national posing as a boyfriend scammed a former South African teacher out of R1.8 million in a romance fraud scheme, convincing her to invest in a trucking business in October 2023 before disappearing. The Hawks arrested 33-year-old Mohoto Mangwejana, into whose account the stolen funds were deposited, though the primary perpetrator remains at large. The case highlights the ongoing threat of dating scams and the importance of recognizing red flags such as unsolicited business proposals and reluctance to meet in public or provide identification.
scrolla.africa
· 2025-12-08
Three people—Ugandans Derrick Nsubuga and Nassazi Joan, and South African Mmakgomo Doris Ngcobo—were denied bail after being accused of operating romance scams that defrauded victims of millions of South African rands. The scammers used dating apps to meet victims and posed as healers and businesspeople, convincing them to withdraw loans and transfer funds under the pretense of "blessings" for business ventures, with at least one victim losing R253,000 across multiple transfers. The accused faced additional charges including passport fraud and pending fraud cases, with their trial scheduled to resume in February.
bigcountrynewsconnection.com
· 2025-12-08
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.
cbsnews.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warns that holiday shopping season increases risk of common scams including non-delivery fraud, non-payment scams, gift card fraud, and fraudulent text messages—with the latter particularly targeting older individuals. A Philadelphia UPS store owner recommends verifying suspicious texts with local businesses and utilizing package holding and secure mailbox services to prevent theft. The FBI advises using strong passwords, verifying website legitimacy, and preferring credit cards over debit cards for online purchases.
wmur.com
· 2025-12-08
New Hampshire's Assistant Attorney General Alexandra Sosnowski warns consumers about holiday shopping scams, particularly those occurring online during the Christmas season. Key recommendations include verifying retailer URLs and checking reviews on trusted sources like the Better Business Bureau before purchasing, monitoring package deliveries to prevent porch theft, avoiding clicking links in unsolicited text messages claiming delivery issues, and purchasing gift cards directly from retailers to avoid tampered cards. The alert emphasizes taking extra time to verify sources and using tracking information directly from retailers rather than through suspicious links.
thefranklinnewspost.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational article discusses common holiday shopping scams and protection strategies. Key scams include phishing emails impersonating delivery services or retailers like Amazon, fake websites mimicking legitimate retailers, fraudulent Google ads leading to counterfeit products, and third-party seller scams on platforms like Walmart and Target. The article advises consumers to verify unexpected delivery notifications by visiting original websites directly, avoid clicking suspicious links in texts or emails, scrutinize sponsored ads and seller reviews, and shop only on legitimate sites rather than clicking unvetted links.
news9.com
· 2025-12-08
Cleveland County Court Clerk's Office warned residents of a jury duty scam involving fraudsters using fake arrest warrants and demanding payment via phone, email, or in-person visits, with at least one reported case where scammers appeared at someone's door with a fake warrant demanding payment in gift cards. The court clarified that legitimate jury duty communications are only sent by U.S. mail and never request payment, and that no Cleveland County resident has been fined or jailed for missing jury duty under the current clerk. Residents are advised to call 911 if approached in person by suspected scammers and to alert vulnerable loved ones, especially during the holiday season.
bankingjournal.aba.com
· 2025-12-08
"Fraud as a service" is a growing criminal business model where perpetrators offer tools and infrastructure to commit fraud, recruiting unwitting "money mules" to transfer funds through their bank accounts. Financial losses from fraud targeting seniors over 60 have surged from $500 million in 2018 to $3.5 billion in 2023, with schemes also prevalent on social media platforms targeting younger demographics and even infants through synthetic identity fraud. Banks have a critical 72-hour window to recover fraudulent funds before money leaves accounts, and implementing name-matching verification and monitoring for suspicious transaction patterns like unusual velocity or peer-to-peer transfers can help prevent fraud.
etsn.fm
· 2025-12-08
Saint Jovite Youngblood of Manor, Texas was sentenced to 40 years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering after impersonating a U.S. Army Delta Force officer and falsely warning 32 victims that Mexican drug cartels would harm them unless they paid for protection. Youngblood defrauded his victims of over $12.7 million, which he subsequently gambled away in Las Vegas casinos, and was ordered to pay full restitution to the victims.
indiatodayne.in
· 2025-12-08
A victim from Guwahati lost Rs 15,00,000 to a fake online investment scam, and Guwahati Police's Cyber Crime Police Station successfully recovered Rs 2,35,310 back to the victim's bank account. The investigation is ongoing to recover the remaining funds and apprehend the perpetrators, while authorities urge citizens to verify the authenticity of online investment platforms.
paymentsjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new rules to protect victims of domestic violence and elder abuse from coerced debt, where abusers manipulate victims into taking out loans or credit cards in their names or make unauthorized purchases on their accounts. Financial abuse significantly impacts survivors—nearly three-quarters of domestic violence victims stay in abusive relationships longer because of coerced debt, and clearing this debt can improve credit scores by over 20 points, enabling survivors to rebuild their financial lives. The CFPB is seeking public input on the effects of coerced debt and barriers to aid, with particular focus on vulnerable groups including older Americans, who are less likely to report abuse.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Former Pigeon Township Trustee Mariama Wilson and contractor Terrance Hardiman were sentenced for operating a kickback scheme from February 2020 to May 2022 that defrauded taxpayers of $38,000. Wilson and Hardiman conspired to inflate invoices for homeless shelter and food pantry projects, with Hardiman submitting inflated bids and then paying Wilson and co-defendant William Payne kickbacks of $1,000-$2,000 per project, which they received in cash delivered by hand. Wilson received three years of probation, Hardiman received six months in federal prison plus two years of supervised release, and both were
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A 78-year-old North Bay woman lost $20,000 to scammers impersonating Redwood Credit Union and Federal Reserve System employees who convinced her they were protecting her finances and instructed her to withdraw cash and hand it to a fake federal marshal. When the scammers attempted to collect an additional $20,000 the next day, law enforcement was conducting a sting operation and arrested 20-year-old Yung-Wen Kuan, believed to be a courier for an organized fraud ring, on charges of grand theft, elder financial abuse, and conspiracy.
abc3340.com
· 2025-12-08
Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer was convicted of two counts of wire fraud for executing a fraudulent Power of Attorney over an elderly family member with dementia without consent and transferring $550,000 from the victim's bank accounts to his own between September and December 2023. Pruitt became a joint account holder, altered account addresses and beneficiaries, and moved $500,000 to an account in his name alone before providing inconsistent explanations when confronted. The FBI investigated the case, and the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311) is available for victims age 60 and older.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer, Alabama was convicted of two counts of wire fraud for defrauding an elderly family member with dementia of $550,000 between September and December 2023. Pruitt illegally obtained power of attorney, became a joint account holder, changed account addresses, altered beneficiary designations, and transferred the victim's funds to his personal accounts, later moving $500,000 to an account excluding the victim. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
kfab.iheart.com
· 2025-12-08
Nigerian national Abiola Kayode, a former FBI Most Wanted Cyber Criminal, was extradited to Nebraska to face charges for defrauding more than $6 million from Nebraska businesses through business email compromise schemes in which he and co-conspirators posed as company executives to direct wire transfers. The scheme utilized bank accounts from romance scam victims to launder stolen funds, with several co-conspirators already convicted and sentenced to federal prison with restitution orders totaling over $3 million, while other members remain at large.
ici.radio-canada.ca
· 2025-12-08
A Toronto resident who lost $355,000 in a romance cryptocurrency scam beginning in June 2021 has recovered $225,000 following a three-year international investigation. The victim was deceived by a scammer posing as "Moshe Theodor McNigh" on Facebook who encouraged investment in cryptocurrency through a fraudulent website; a suspect was arrested in Nigeria and Nigerian courts ordered the recovery of funds. The case involved collaboration between Toronto police, Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP, and Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple in Williamson County, Illinois lost $121,000 to an imposter scam in which fraudsters posing as PayPal representatives and federal agents convinced them their accounts were compromised and persuaded them to withdraw cash for "secure" federal custody. Three Chinese nationals have been arrested and charged with federal wire fraud for their roles in the conspiracy, which involved sending pictures of withdrawal slips and arranging cash pickups using code words. U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe warned southern Illinois residents about the prevalence of such scams, which typically begin with communications claiming suspicious account activity and escalate through threats about losing savings and retirement funds.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Two suspects were arrested in Santa Clara County for operating a "pig butchering" scam in which they posed as "Aunt Amelia," an investment banker, on Facebook and defrauded a 66-year-old San Jose man of $170,000 in cryptocurrency investments. The victim became suspicious when the scammers requested an additional $348,000, leading him to contact authorities who arranged an undercover arrest at a parking lot. District Attorney Jeff Rosen warned that pig butchering scams typically involve human trafficking victims in Southeast Asia who are coerced into slowly extracting maximum funds from victims through false investment promises.
signalscv.com
· 2025-12-08
Multiple U.S. regulatory agencies reported in December that elder financial exploitation costs Americans over $28 billion annually, with over 155,000 cases reported between June 2022 and June 2023 linked to approximately $27 billion in suspicious activity. The FBI documented over 101,000 elder fraud complaints in 2023, with victims over 60 losing an average of $33,915—nearly 270% higher than 2020—primarily through investment scams, business email compromise, romance scams, and government impersonation schemes. Regulatory agencies urged financial institutions to strengthen protections by increasing account oversight, training employees to recognize exploitation, and coordinating with law enforcement and elder
spotonalabama.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bessemer man, 47-year-old Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, was convicted by jury of committing an elder fraud scheme, with the verdict announced by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples following a two-day trial. The article does not provide specific details about the victims, dollar amounts, or the methods used in the fraud scheme.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Kamila Horakova Dudley, a 43-year-old Maryland woman, was sentenced on December 10, 2024, to 3 years probation and ordered to pay $473,702.43 in restitution for her role in a million-dollar wire fraud scheme targeting a New Orleans Marine Forces Reserve facility. As an office manager for a contractor from March 2017 through November 2018, Dudley knowingly prepared and submitted false invoices billing the U.S. government approximately $1.3 million for services never provided, including charges for executives and employees who worked at separate facilities. Despite learning in October 2017 that the invoices contained fraudulent
wsiltv.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Attorney's Office warned southern Illinois residents of imposter scams targeting older Americans, where criminals pose as PayPal representatives and fraudulent federal agents to convince victims their accounts are compromised, then pressure them to withdraw savings for "secure custody." Three Chinese nationals face federal wire fraud charges after an elderly couple in Williamson County lost $121,000 in the scam; the suspects were arrested in October when attempting to collect the cash from the victims' residence.
wmix94.com
· 2025-12-08
An elderly couple in Williamson County, Illinois lost $121,000 in an imposter scam where criminals posing as PayPal representatives and federal agents convinced them their accounts were compromised and persuaded them to withdraw cash for "secure" federal custody. Three Chinese nationals were arrested in October and face federal wire fraud charges after attempting to pick up the withdrawn funds at the couple's residence. U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe warned southern Illinois residents about the prevalence of imposter scams targeting seniors, which typically involve fraudsters impersonating legitimate companies or government officials to manipulate victims into draining their accounts.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
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.
wbrc.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bessemer man, 47-year-old Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, was convicted of two counts of wire fraud after fraudulently obtaining power of attorney over an elderly family member with dementia and transferring $550,000 from the victim's bank accounts to his own between September and December 2023. The FBI investigated the case, which was prosecuted by the US Attorney's office.
wvua23.com
· 2025-12-08
Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, of Bessemer was convicted of two counts of wire fraud for executing a Power of Attorney over an elderly family member with dementia without consent and fraudulently transferring $550,000 from the victim's bank accounts between September and December 2023. Pruitt became a joint account holder, changed account addresses, altered beneficiaries, and moved funds to his personal accounts for his own use. The case underscores the importance of reporting elder financial fraud to law enforcement and resources like the National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-372-8311).