Explore the Archive

Tavoy Farquharson, a 32-year-old Jamaican national, was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with a lottery scheme that defrauded victims of at least $9.5 million between March and July 2023. Farquharson and his co-conspirators contacted victims by mail and phone, falsely claiming they had won lottery prizes and demanding advance payments for taxes and fees via wire transfer, gift cards, cash, checks, or other methods. If convicted, Farquharson faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.

The Town of Oyster Bay partnered with the Nassau County District Attorney's office to combat scams targeting seniors, offering two educational seminars in September 2024 to teach residents about online threats and reporting procedures. According to the Federal Trade Commission, over $230 million was stolen from New Yorkers by scammers in 2024 alone, with seniors being particularly vulnerable to phone and email scams impersonating government agents, banks, or family members, as well as physical theft and technologically sophisticated attacks. The seminars address growing concerns about increasingly complex fraud schemes, including those using artificial intelligence to mimic voices, with some victims losing their entire life savings.

This is an opinion piece critiquing class action lawsuits, arguing that while they theoretically protect consumers, many function as scams that benefit lawyers and special interests rather than victims. The author illustrates his concern with examples including a Google location-data case where $18 million went to lawyers and $43 million to left-leaning nonprofits while class members received nothing, and argues that judges approve such settlements due to conflicts of interest and political alignment with recipient organizations.

The New York State Police warned the public about a nationwide automated sextortion scam in which fraudsters use illegally obtained email addresses and personal information purchased on the dark web to contact victims, threatening to release compromising material unless victims pay extortion fees. The scammers employ intimidation and threats of embarrassment to coerce payments from targets.

The Better Business Bureau reports a record surge in phishing scams in 2024, with scam reports doubling between 2022 and 2023, targeting people through text messages (such as fake toll payment demands), extortion emails involving threats to release compromising images unless Bitcoin payment is made, and stolen event tickets from major data breaches like the Ticketmaster hack affecting 500 million users. Experts recommend not engaging with scammers, using app-based authentication with two-factor verification, and reporting suspected scams, noting that cryptocurrency payments are nearly impossible to recover once sent.

Isaiah Okere, a 42-year-old Nigerian citizen, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after being extradited from South Africa for his role in an international scam operation targeting at least 15 victims. From 2015 to 2019, Okere and co-conspirators orchestrated romance scams, lottery scams, and business email compromise schemes that resulted in over $1 million in losses, with vulnerable and elderly victims losing their entire retirement savings, and one victim reporting suicidal ideation. Okere used false identities and foreign bank accounts to facilitate the fraud and money laundering scheme, and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

A Gwinnett County woman fell victim to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam in December 2022 when a fraudster impersonated her real estate closing attorney and instructed her to wire $131,092.55 to purchase her home. With assistance from Gwinnett County Police detectives and JP Morgan Chase, authorities recovered over $100,000 of the stolen funds—$45,092.55 was returned after the suspect, Edina Winter of Glen Cove, New York, was charged, and the remaining $86,000 was seized from the fraudulent account.

The Town of Oyster Bay partnered with the Nassau County District Attorney's office to combat an escalating wave of scams targeting seniors, with over $230 million stolen from New Yorkers in 2024 alone. Scammers exploit seniors through telephone and email schemes impersonating government agents, bank officials, or family members to gain access to retirement accounts and savings, while also using methods ranging from mailbox theft to sophisticated malware attacks. The partnership is hosting educational seminars to inform seniors and their families about recognizing and reporting these threats, which have grown increasingly sophisticated, including the use of AI voice-mimicking technology.

Quincy police arrested two men from Brooklyn in connection with a tech support scam that defrauded a local senior citizen of over $120,000. The perpetrators used a fake Microsoft notification to lure the victim into calling a number where they impersonated an FDIC employee, convincing the senior to withdraw cash and hand it over to a courier, while simultaneously accessing the victim's computer remotely to obtain financial information and send fraudulent correspondence from government agencies. The victim became suspicious and contacted police; both men were charged with larceny and conspiracy and held on $100,000 bail.

A Massachusetts senior was defrauded of $120,000 after receiving a fake Microsoft notification directing her to call a number where scammers impersonated FDIC and FBI officials, convincing her to withdraw cash and wrap it in foil for "safekeeping." Two Brooklyn men, Shaoquin Liu and Shiwang Ning, were arrested after attempting to pick up the money and were charged with larceny and conspiracy. The scammers had gained computer access to create fraudulent correspondence from the victim's bank, SSA, and FDIC to support the scheme.

I cannot provide a summary of this article because only the website navigation menu and headline are visible in the text provided. The actual article content describing the romance scam operation is not included. To create an accurate summary for the Elderus database, please provide the full article text.

Two Brooklyn men, Shaoquin Liu and Shiwang Ning, were arrested and charged with larceny and conspiracy after defrauding an elderly South Shore resident of $120,000 through a tech support scam. The perpetrators impersonated Microsoft, FDIC, and Social Security Administration officials, convincing the victim their bank account had suspicious activity and manipulating them into making repeated large cash withdrawals that were picked up by associates. The victim became suspicious and contacted police, leading to the suspects' arrest when they arrived to collect additional cash.

A 31-year-old New York man was arrested in Branford, Connecticut after operating as a courier in a text message scam scheme that initiates contact with unsuspecting victims through unsolicited "Hello" messages to build fake relationships and extract money. The suspect, Wenije He, was apprehended while attempting to collect a large cash sum believed destined for criminal enterprise and faces larceny and phone fraud charges with a $200,000 bond. Police warn residents to ignore unsolicited texts from unknown numbers, never send money or personal information to unknown contacts, and report suspicious activity to local authorities.

A global survey by Chubb found that 61% of respondents have reduced their use of digital payment platforms due to cyber scam concerns, despite 46% mistakenly believing their payments are already protected. The study across eight countries revealed that 63% have been cyber scam victims or know someone who has, with phishing, impersonation, and fake purchase scams being the most common threats. Results show that 75% of respondents would increase their trust and adoption of digital payments if transaction insurance were available.

A global survey of 2,600 respondents across eight countries found that 61% have reduced their use of digital payment platforms due to cyber scam fears, while 46% mistakenly believe their payments are already protected. The survey revealed that 63% have experienced or know victims of cyber scams, with phishing, impersonation, and fake purchase scams being the most common concerns; 75% of respondents indicated that transaction insurance would increase their trust and adoption of digital payments.

Abilash Kurien, Vice President of International Cargo Airline Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for his role in a decade-long fraud scheme that defrauded the company of more than $32 million in revenue. Kurien personally received over $7 million in kickbacks from vendors in exchange for ensuring they received favorable business arrangements, and was ordered to forfeit $7.2 million and pay $23 million in restitution. The scheme involved at least 10 senior executives and employees at Polar and its vendors and operated from 2009 through July 2021.

I cannot provide a summary as requested. The text you've provided appears to be a news webpage header or feed containing multiple unrelated news headlines (about a church Christmas tree, Ukraine peace talks, a prison incident, a McDonald's arrest, and a kayaking accident), none of which involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. For the Elderus database, please provide an article or transcript that specifically addresses fraudulent schemes, scams, or elder abuse situations.

I cannot provide a summary as requested. The content you've provided appears to be a news headline feed covering unrelated topics (Ukraine peace talks, a prison incident, a criminal case, and a tragic accident), none of which involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse—the focus areas for the Elderus database. If you have an article specifically about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse, please share that content and I'll be happy to summarize it.

Tinder launched a World Romance Scam Prevention Day campaign featuring Love Island star Rob Rausch to promote awareness of romance scams and advertise its new verification tool available to U.S. users. The campaign highlights that U.S. digital consumers lost $1.14 billion to scams last year, and Tinder has rolled out over 20 safety features in recent years to combat romance fraud. Match Group plans additional influencer partnerships to further educate audiences about online dating safety.

Calvin Darden Jr. was convicted of defrauding former NBA star Dwight Howard of $7 million and NBA forward Chandler Parsons of $1 million through fraudulent investment schemes involving the purchase of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream and player development, respectively. Darden spent most of Howard's money on luxury items including vehicles, real estate, and jewelry, and prosecutors plan to seize his assets; he faces 11 to 14 years in prison at sentencing. This conviction comes eight years after Darden served prison time for impersonating his father in a failed attempt to purchase Maxim magazine.

Calvin Darden Jr. was convicted of defrauding former NBA star Dwight Howard of $7 million and former NBA forward Chandler Parsons of $1 million through bogus investment schemes involving the purchase of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream and player development. Darden falsely convinced Howard and Parsons that their money would fund these legitimate ventures when he actually spent the funds on personal luxury items including cars, jewelry, art, and real estate. He faces 11-14 years in prison at sentencing and prosecutors plan to seize his assets including his Atlanta home and luxury goods.

A 24-year-old New York woman, Yuxin Fu, was arrested at JFK Airport in September 2023 after fleeing to China, in connection with a government impersonation scam that defrauded a Cape Cod resident of $46,000 in December 2022. The scammer posed as a DEA agent and convinced the victim that their Social Security number was linked to a Texas investigation, instructing them to transfer money to a "safe" government account to prevent seizure. Fu was charged with larceny and receiving stolen property, held on $100,000 bail following her arraignment.

**Summary:** Calvin Darden Jr., a Georgia businessman, was convicted of defrauding former NBA star Dwight Howard of $7 million and former NBA forward Chandler Parsons of $1 million through bogus investment schemes involving the purchase of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream and development of NBA player James Wiseman. Darden spent at least $6.1 million of Howard's money on luxury items including cars, a piano, real estate, and art, and faces 11-14 years in prison at sentencing in early 2025. This conviction marks his second major fraud case, following a 2016 conviction for impersonating his father in an attempte

A 24-year-old New York woman was arrested and charged after allegedly scamming a Marstons Mills resident out of $46,000 in a Social Security fraud scheme where the victim was impersonated by someone claiming to be a DEA agent. The scammer instructed the victim to transfer funds into a "safe" government account to protect them from seizure based on a false claim that their Social Security number was linked to a Texas investigation. Fu fled the country to China in May 2023 but was apprehended at JFK Airport in September 2023 upon attempting to reenter the U.S. and was extradited to Massachusetts.

In 2023-2024, New York City's Department for the Aging assisted over 43,000 elder abuse victims through its Elderly Crime Victims Resource Center and Elder Justice Network, which provide counseling, crisis intervention, and criminal justice support. Elder abuse takes multiple forms—including physical, sexual, emotional abuse, fraud, and financial exploitation—and can affect older adults across all demographics, prompting NYC authorities to expand police training, assign liaison officers to precincts, and hold awareness summits to help victims access resources and support.

The Queens District Attorney's Office and Elder Fraud Coordinator Daren Wilkes presented an educational session on elder fraud and scam awareness on September 29, 2024, at Saints Constantine and Helen Parish in Jackson Heights, New York. The presentation aimed to inform community members about common fraud schemes targeting seniors and protective measures they can take.

During Medicare's Open Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7), scammers target seniors with fraudulent schemes involving impersonation of Medicare representatives, unsolicited calls, pressure to enroll in prescription drug plans, requests for personal information like Medicare and Social Security numbers, and offers of illegal gifts. New York's Senior Medicare Patrol warns that Medicare never cold calls beneficiaries and enrollment in Part D prescription plans is voluntary, with seniors having the entire enrollment period to decide. Seniors who suspect compromise of their personal information or unauthorized enrollment can contact the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-333-4374 to report fraud.

Rudy Giuliani's son Andrew is claiming ownership of four New York Yankees World Series rings that Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss seek to seize to collect on a $148 million defamation judgment against the elder Giuliani. Andrew filed court papers asserting his father gifted him the rings in 2018, providing a photo as evidence, while Freeman and Moss argue they should be able to take the rings and other assets to satisfy the judgment stemming from Giuliani's false claims that they committed ballot fraud in the 2020 election.

Tolulope Samuel Bodunde, a 33-year-old Nigerian citizen, was sentenced to two years in prison for participating in a multi-country business email compromise scheme that defrauded multiple victims including Connecticut, Colorado, Alaska, and New York-based companies. Bodunde specifically exploited elderly women through romance scams to serve as unwitting money mules and was ordered to pay $494,939 in restitution to three victims. The criminal network, led by co-conspirator Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, operated over several years by impersonating legitimate entities in electronic communications to trick victims into transferring money to accounts controlled by the conspirators.

This article is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database. It is a local events listing for the Peekskill-Cortlandt, New York area featuring concerts, holiday celebrations, workshops, and community activities. It contains no information about scams, fraud, elder abuse, or related topics.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and experts advise consumers to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams by remembering the "three S's": stay suspicious, stop and think, and stay protected. Common scam tactics exploit fear, urgency, and money; frequent targets include seniors and vulnerable populations through robocalls, phishing emails, impersonation of authorities, and romance scams—with one 70-year-old woman losing tens of thousands over several months to a romance scammer. Experts recommend hanging up on unsolicited calls and texts, calling official numbers to verify requests, and asking trusted younger relatives to reverse-image search suspicious photos.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and security experts outline key scam prevention strategies as sophisticated fraud tactics continue to evolve. Scammers commonly exploit fear, urgency, and money as bait through phishing emails, spoofed caller IDs, robocalls, romance scams, and impersonation schemes targeting vulnerable populations including seniors and isolated individuals. The article recommends staying suspicious, stopping to think before acting, and staying protected by verifying requests through official channels and using tools like reverse image searches to identify potential fraud.

**Summary:** October's Cybersecurity Awareness Month highlights the increasing sophistication of scams, including phishing emails, text spoofing, and caller ID spoofing. Security experts advise consumers to remain vigilant by remembering the "three S's"—stay suspicious, stop and think, and stay protected—as scammers use tactics based on fear, urgency, and money to trick victims into sharing personal information or sending funds through romance scams, job scams, and impersonation schemes.

This article does not relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It covers the Girl Scouts of the USA's decision to increase membership dues by 160% over two years to address financial losses. This topic falls outside the scope of the Elderus fraud research database.

The Veterans Affairs Department is investigating Acadia Healthcare, a major psychiatric hospital chain, for allegedly defrauding government insurance programs by keeping patients hospitalized longer than medically necessary to increase profits from Medicare and Medicaid. The investigation follows similar inquiries from federal prosecutors in Manhattan, a Missouri grand jury, and anticipated scrutiny from the SEC and other agencies.

The American Bankers Association Foundation announced seven 2024 Community Commitment Award winners, recognizing banks for exceptional corporate social responsibility programs across categories including affordable housing, financial education, and protecting older Americans. American Riviera Bank in Santa Barbara won in the "Protecting Older Americans" category for its Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention program, which trains frontline staff and collaborates with law enforcement to prevent elder financial abuse while providing online educational resources.

A New York man was indicted on attempted theft by deception charges for acting as a courier in a bank impersonation scam targeting a 77-year-old New Hampshire man. Scammers impersonating bank fraud department employees called the victim claiming his account was compromised and instructed him to withdraw $20,000 cash for pickup; the defendant attempted to collect at least $1,500 from the victim's home. The defendant was arrested in July and scheduled for arraignment in November.

Assemblyman Clyde Vanel introduced legislation in New York that would elevate theft and fraud crimes targeting seniors over 60 to felony status, responding to an estimated $1.5 billion in annual elder financial exploitation in the state and $28.3 billion nationally. The bill aims to address the prevalence of scams targeting elderly victims, who lose an average of $33,915 per incident, by allowing prosecutors to treat age-targeted crimes more severely than similar offenses against younger victims.

A 48-year-old New York resident, Wenhua Zhuo, was indicted on felony charges of attempted theft by deception for allegedly serving as a courier in a scheme targeting a 77-year-old Richmond, New Hampshire man. The scam involved a fraudulent call claiming to be from the victim's bank, instructing him to withdraw $20,000; Zhuo allegedly traveled to the victim's home to collect money, with over $1,500 in currency present at the time of the attempted pickup. The case was investigated by the Attorney General's Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit, with Zhuo's arraignment scheduled for November 7.

A New York man, Wenhua Zhuo, was indicted on attempted theft by deception charges for acting as a courier in a bank impersonation scam targeting a 77-year-old New Hampshire man. Scammers posing as bank fraud department employees called the victim and instructed him to withdraw $20,000 in cash for a courier to collect, though Zhuo only obtained over $1,500 before the scheme was interrupted. Zhuo was arrested in July and was scheduled for arraignment in November.

A 48-year-old New York man was indicted for attempting to steal $20,000 from a 77-year-old New Hampshire resident as part of a bank impersonation scam, where he posed as a courier to pick up cash after a fraudster called the victim claiming his bank account was compromised. Wenhua Zhuo traveled to the victim's home in Richmond and was arrested after approaching the victim who had withdrawn over $1,500 in cash, and he faces a class A felony charge of attempted theft by deception.

Two women were targeted by the same group in alleged staged car accidents on New York's Belt Parkway, with dash cam footage showing a silver Honda deliberately stopping and backing into their vehicles while a red Kia appeared at each scene with multiple occupants ready to file insurance claims. The NYPD's Criminal Enterprise Investigation Unit launched an investigation into the fraudulent collision scheme, which the National Insurance Crime Bureau notes typically targets wealthier communities and female drivers perceived to have better insurance coverage. Both victims experienced financial and emotional stress from the incidents, which occurred two months apart.

A New York man, Wenhua Zhuo, 48, was indicted on attempted theft by deception for acting as a courier in a bank impersonation scam targeting a 77-year-old New Hampshire man. Scammers posing as bank fraud department officials called the victim and instructed him to withdraw $20,000 in cash for a courier to collect, and Zhuo appeared at the victim's home to retrieve at least $1,500 in cash that had already been withdrawn. Zhuo was arrested in July and was scheduled for arraignment in November.

This educational article outlines common online scams targeting consumers during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, including romance scams (which prey on isolated individuals over extended periods), job scams (impersonating recruiters to steal money or personal information), investment scams (get-rich-quick schemes often involving cryptocurrency), and quiz scams (harvesting personal data for account breaches). The article provides warning signs and protective measures for each scam type, such as reverse-image searching suspicious photos, verifying job offers directly with companies, researching investment opportunities independently, and avoiding online quizzes that collect personal information.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles warned of a surge in online car sale scams on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, where stolen vehicles with altered identification numbers and forged titles are being sold to unsuspecting buyers. As of October 15, the DMV had recovered 228 stolen vehicles, with 149 purchased by victims through online private sales. The DMV recommends buyers verify the seller's identity and title, match VINs, check theft and mileage records, use cashier's checks, and be wary of unlicensed sellers using out-of-state documentation.

This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It is a general "Today in History" calendar entry containing historical events and celebrity birthdays with no content related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.

**Summary:** Governor Hochul warned New York baseball fans about World Series ticket scams ahead of Games 3 at Yankee Stadium, as high demand for the historic Yankees-Dodgers matchup creates opportunities for fraudsters. The New York Department of Consumer Protection provided tips to avoid scams, including purchasing from official venues, verifying sellers through trusted broker networks, using credit cards for buyer protection, and avoiding suspiciously low prices on secondary marketplaces like Craigslist and social media. New Yorkers can contact the State Department of Consumer Protection at 1-800-697-1220 for assistance or to file complaints.

Job scams are on the rise as scammers impersonate recruiters and companies on online platforms to steal money and personal information from job seekers. A 28-year-old quality assurance analyst lost $1,000 after depositing a fraudulent check and unknowingly sharing personal details with scammers who posed as a marketing technology company. Experts recommend verifying recruiter identities through official company websites, avoiding clicking links from unsolicited messages, and being wary of unusually high-paying remote positions that request personal information like Social Security numbers early in the hiring process.

This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It covers political news regarding Steve Bannon's release from federal prison after serving a sentence for contempt of Congress related to the January 6 Capitol investigation. While it mentions criminal charges related to border wall fundraising, this is a political/criminal justice story, not an elder fraud matter relevant to the Elderus database.

An educational forum held at Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union in Lakewood, New York reviewed common scams targeting older adults, who lost $3 billion to fraud in the previous year according to the FBI. The session covered gift card scams, holiday shopping fraud, romance scams, AI-enabled impersonation scams, and political donation scams, offering prevention tips such as purchasing gift cards at checkout, avoiding suspicious links, ignoring payment requests from strangers online, verifying callers through specific photo requests, and declining unsolicited donation calls. Authorities advised against sharing personal information on social media, as it increases vulnerability to password guessing and impersonation.