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Romance scams are surging and costing victims billions of dollars, prompting congressional attention and bipartisan legislative efforts. Lawmakers are advancing a bill that would require dating apps to issue warnings about flagged accounts, while experts warn that artificial intelligence is making these scams increasingly difficult for users to detect.

Former members of Gateway Church filed a class action lawsuit in October alleging that the Southlake megachurch and its former senior pastor Robert Morris misrepresented how tithes were spent, claiming the church promised at least 15% would go to foreign missionary work but failed to deliver, and that Morris offered a "money back guarantee" on donations. A federal judge ruled Monday that Gateway does not have to immediately produce financial documents and denied the plaintiffs' motion to compel discovery, with the court now considering whether to dismiss the case entirely. The lawsuit emerged after Morris was publicly accused in June of sexually abusing an Oklahoma woman beginning when she was 12 years old in the 1980s, leading

In 2023, Texas seniors experienced an 11% increase in fraud losses, with one notable case involving a man sentenced to eight years in prison for stealing $300,000 from a Georgetown woman as part of an international scheme. Investigators identified a scam ring originating from India that targeted 21 victims across the country for nearly $6 million total by impersonating U.S. Government officials to extort money and personal information. AARP recommends victims speak up about fraud rather than remaining silent, as reporting can help protect others, and provides a helpline at 877-908-3360 for suspected scams.

A Bucksport, Maine man nearly fell victim to a puppy scam after finding an online listing for a Maltese puppy priced under $800 from a supposed Texas breeder; he avoided the fraud after noticing inconsistencies in property details and transportation costs, and was subsequently targeted for Bitcoin transfers through PayPal. Puppy scams are increasingly common, with perpetrators requesting wire transfers, cryptocurrency payments, or money sent to individuals rather than businesses—all red flags that indicate potential fraud and make fund recovery unlikely.

A high school student named Arhan Menta founded the Kumar Project, a nonprofit organization, after his grandfather lost money to a remote-access scam, to educate seniors about financial fraud prevention. Through workshops at senior centers and libraries across Northern Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, and Texas, Arhan and his partners have reached over 1,000 seniors with educational programming and recommendations such as sharing account access with trusted relatives to monitor suspicious activity. Arhan is now working with Virginia state legislators to advocate for laws requiring greater financial scam education and bank transparency to protect seniors from exploitation.

Bradley Morgan Holts, a 54-year-old former financial advisor and stockbroker in Orange, Texas, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in March 2025 for deceiving investors. Holts created a fraudulent bank account posing as "Invesco Investment Texas" to solicit client funds intended for legitimate Invesco investments, which he then misappropriated for personal use. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing.

According to a 2024 Statista study, 90% of US adults aged 65 and older use the internet, making them frequent targets for online scams, particularly in states with older populations like Florida and Texas. The National Council on Aging recommends six protective strategies including listening without judgment, encouraging delayed responses to urgent-sounding messages, and involving anti-fraud organizations and peer networks to help vulnerable seniors recognize and avoid romance scams, crypto schemes, and other fraud.

An 85-year-old man in San Jose received a phishing message requesting personal and bank information, which his family recognized as a scam—an incident that prompted his granddaughter, Tejasvi Manoj, to develop Shield Seniors, an AI-powered application designed to help seniors identify fraudulent messages and learn cybersecurity practices. Research showed that 75% of adults over 65 lack understanding of basic cybersecurity measures, and elder fraud costs victims an average of $33,915 per person. The application, currently in demo stage, provides four functions: educational resources on cybersecurity, a chatbot to analyze suspicious messages, AI-powered scam

An international fraud scheme originating from India targeted Texas seniors and 20 other victims across the country, with scammers impersonating U.S. Government officials to steal nearly $6 million total, including $300,000 from a Georgetown woman whose case resulted in an eight-year prison sentence. Money losses among people over 60 increased 11% in 2023, prompting fraud prevention efforts and advice from AARP to help seniors recognize and report scams rather than remaining silent due to embarrassment.

Christine Echohawk, 53, of Pawnee, Oklahoma, was arrested and charged with laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) across Utah, Texas, and Florida. One victim sent over $600,000 between April 2023 and March 2025 to a man using the alias "Edward Lotts," who claimed he needed to pay off a debt to access $2 million, and she sold her house to fund the payments. Echohawk facilitated the fraud by opening multiple bank accounts to receive the funds, converting them to cryptocurrency, and transferring them to wallets controlled by

The Better Business Bureau is warning of a rise in AI-powered identity theft scams, which have generated nearly five million reports across North America since 2021. Scammers use advanced AI tools to create convincing emails, texts, and even fake phone calls mimicking loved ones to steal sensitive information like social security numbers and bank details, then open fraudulent credit cards and loans in victims' names. Employment scams are the most common vector, as job applicants voluntarily provide personal information during the application process.

Christine Joan Echohawk, 54, of Pawnee, Oklahoma, was arrested and charged with laundering approximately $1.5 million from online romance scams targeting elderly women aged 64-79 in Florida, Texas, and Utah between September and December 2023. The victims, believing they were in relationships with men, sent money through various methods including Apple gift cards, cash, and wire transfers, which Echohawk deposited into her bank accounts, converted to cryptocurrency, and transferred to an unidentified male subject. Echohawk faces five felony counts carrying potential sentences of 24 to 62 years in prison and fines up to $260,000, with notable individual

Christine Joan Echohawk, 54, of Pawnee was charged with laundering approximately $1.5 million from elderly women (ages 64-79) in Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, and Utah who believed they were sending money to romantic interests between September and December. Echohawk received funds through various methods, converted most to cryptocurrency, and transferred the funds to an unidentified male subject while using some proceeds personally and lying to banks about the money's source. She faces multiple felony charges including unlawful use of criminal proceeds and violations of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act, with charges filed by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office.

Police in Texarkana, Texas are warning the public about auto theft rings selling stolen vehicles with fraudulent VINs on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, with at least two confirmed cases in the area. To avoid becoming victims, buyers are advised to verify VINs through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, meet sellers at official locations, and be suspicious of unusually low prices, cash-only demands, and sellers unwilling to provide documentation.

A 34-year-old Nigerian man, Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, was arrested in Dallas-Fort Worth in April 2025 after being indicted for masterminding a $2.5 million romance scam that operated from 2016 to 2019. The scheme involved creating fake dating profiles to manipulate vulnerable victims into sending money under false pretenses, with one Massachusetts victim unknowingly serving as a money mule who converted stolen funds into cryptocurrency through platforms like LocalBitcoins. Nwadavid faces charges of mail fraud and money laundering, each carrying up to 20 years in prison, plus fines, restitution

An 87-year-old Richardson, Texas woman lost $17,600 in a sophisticated tech support scam that began with a phishing email spoofing her son. Scammers impersonating Apple and bank representatives used fear tactics—falsely claiming unauthorized charges for ammunition and child pornography—to isolate her from legitimate help and manipulate her into withdrawing cash and depositing it into a Bitcoin ATM. Her son is sharing the story to raise awareness about increasingly complex elder fraud schemes that exploit emotional manipulation and urgency.

Tyler, Texas tax preparer Karistha Johnson, 38, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for filing over 610 fraudulent tax returns between 2017-2019 that fabricated deductions and business expenses to generate $1.2 million in false refunds. Johnson was ordered to pay $1,244,934 in restitution for exploiting clients who sought her tax preparation services.

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JPMorgan Chase is pursuing additional lawsuits against customers who exploited an "infinite money glitch" discovered in August 2024, which allowed users to deposit fraudulent checks via ATM and withdraw funds before the checks bounced. The bank has filed suits in Georgia, Florida, New York, and Texas against individuals accused of stealing amounts up to $75,000 each, and has sent demand letters to over 1,000 customers since October 2024, with a representative stating the bank will pursue cases "for as long as it takes to hold fraudsters accountable."

The City of La Marque lost between $15,000 and $20,000 through a phishing scam in which a fraudster impersonated a vendor and tricked a new finance employee into making an unauthorized payment in December; a routine audit discovered the theft weeks later, the employee was fired, and an investigation is underway with no arrests made or funds recovered yet. The article also references a similar 2023 case in Galveston where someone posing as a truck company scammed the city out of nearly $700,000, resulting in the arrest and conviction of Fawn Sloan, who received a 10-year sentence for money laundering and was ordered to pay

**Summary:** Two Texas men, Stanley Anyanwu (41) and Vitalis Anyanwu (42), were convicted of wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering conspiracy for their roles as "money mules" in a scheme that defrauded the City of Memphis of $773,695.45 through a business email compromise (BEC) scam in February 2022, as well as romance scam victims. The conspiracy quickly laundered the stolen funds through a network before the city could recover them, and sentencing is scheduled for July 18, 2025.

Seniors lost nearly $4.8 billion to scams in 2024, representing a significant portion of the $16.6 billion in total fraud losses reported by the FBI—a 33% increase from 2023. The most common scams targeting older Americans included business email compromise ($2 billion), technology support scams ($1 billion), and investment fraud ($6 billion), with victims aged 60 and above making up the majority of complaints. Texas, California, and Florida reported the highest losses, though the FBI notes actual figures may be higher due to underreporting by victims.

Seniors lost $4.8 billion to scammers in 2024, contributing to a total of $16.6 billion in losses across all age groups in the United States—a 33% increase from 2023, according to the FBI's annual internet crime report. Investment scams were the most prevalent fraud type, with 47,919 complaints and $6 billion in losses, followed by business email compromise scams ($2 billion) and technology support scams ($1 billion). The FBI received an average of 836,000 cyber fraud reports annually, with California, Texas, and Florida experiencing the highest losses.

**Hardik Jayantilal Patel, a ringleader of an international telemarketing fraud scheme, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution to 85 elderly victims.** From 2019-2020, Patel coordinated a network of "money mules" across the United States who picked up hundreds of cash packages sent by victims responding to scams originating from call centers in India, where fraudsters impersonated government officials claiming victims were under investigation. The scheme victimized primarily elderly individuals nationwide and resulted in millions of dollars in losses, with seven total conspirators sentenced an

Seniors aged 60 and older lost nearly $4.8 billion to scams in 2024, according to an FBI report, with major fraud types including business email compromise scams ($2 billion), technology support scams ($1 billion), and investment fraud ($6 billion across all ages). Americans overall lost $16.6 billion from scams in 2024—a 33 percent increase from 2023—with Texas, California, and Florida experiencing the highest losses, though the FBI notes actual figures may be higher due to underreporting by victims.

Seniors lost nearly $4.8 billion to scams in 2024, according to an FBI report, with major fraud types including business email compromise scams ($2 billion), technology support scams ($1 billion), and investment fraud ($6 billion across all ages). Americans aged 60 and above comprised the majority of victims, though those aged 50-59 also suffered significant losses of $2.5 billion, and the FBI notes actual losses may be higher due to underreporting.

**Summary:** Antonio Jackson Jr., a 39-year-old from Manvel, Texas, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for multiple fraud schemes that defrauded victims of approximately $1,974,145.63 in total restitution ordered. Jackson exploited his military veteran status to perpetrate four Paycheck Protection Program loan frauds (resulting in ~$480,000 in losses), home improvement loan scams against a federal credit union, false VA-backed loan statements, and fraudulent disabled veteran property tax relief claims, using fabricated documents, forged government seals, and fake business records throughout his criminal conduct.

Hardik Jayantilal Patel, 37, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for leading a money laundering operation that supported an international telemarketing fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans from March through November 2019. Operating from Kentucky, Patel coordinated with "runners" who picked up hundreds of cash-filled packages mailed by victims across multiple states after scammers impersonating government officials convinced them they were under investigation; Patel and his conspirators caused significant harm to 85 identified victims, with Patel ordered to pay $3,203,478 in restitution. The case involved seven total defendants sentenced, with co-conspirators receiving

Florida residents lost over $1 billion to internet scams in 2024, a significant increase from $874.74 million in 2023, making the state the third-highest in losses nationally behind California and Texas, according to the FBI's latest Internet Crime Report released in April 2025. The report highlights the growing prevalence of online fraud schemes targeting residents, emphasizing the need for caution when clicking links and engaging online.

**Summary:** Robert Cirilo, a 42-year-old former president of United Steelworkers Local 13-1647 in Corpus Christi, Texas, pleaded guilty to embezzling over $280,000 from the union through approximately 430 unauthorized personal transactions that he concealed by deceiving union members. Cirilo faces sentencing in August 2025, with potential penalties including up to 20 years in federal prison and fines totaling up to $260,000.

Billy Ray Thomas Jr., an assistant branch manager at Neches Federal Credit Union in Texas, pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison on April 29, 2025. Thomas conspired with another individual to fraudulently obtain loans for approximately 30 credit union members—including family and acquaintances—without their knowledge or consent, causing losses exceeding $1.3 million in documented restitution. Thomas was ordered to repay $1,363,825.18 to victims who either did not sign loan documents or unknowingly signed documents they did not understand while trusting Thomas in his position of authority.

Following natural disasters in Texas, scammers target vulnerable residents seeking repairs and relief, with 63% of state residents falling victim to post-disaster scams according to Instant Roofer data, and Hurricane Beryl alone causing $2 billion in damage and displacing 1.4 million people. Common scams include fraudulent contractors, fake FEMA representatives, phony charities, and identity theft schemes. To protect yourself, verify business reviews, get all agreements in writing, avoid upfront payments, and be cautious of unsolicited relief offers and utility shutoff threats.

The FBI warns of discount medical insurance scams that promise reduced rates but provide no actual coverage, resulting in millions in annual losses and primarily targeting people seeking affordable healthcare through unsolicited contact. Washington state issued a cease-and-desist order against one fraudulent company after over 100 complaints, with victims reporting misrepresented coverage, denied refunds, and unauthorized charges; specific cases included Pennsylvania residents pressured into plans with no actual coverage, a Texas senior deceived into unwanted dental insurance, and a Maryland man left responsible for $7,000 in surgery costs after his purchased plan was not accepted by his hospital. To protect themselves, consumers should verify that insurance companies are licensed in their state through the state

The Texas Bar Foundation awarded a $12,000 grant to support the 2025 Texas Elder Justice Coalition Summit scheduled for June 10, 2025 in Fort Worth, bringing together frontline professionals to address elder fraud and financial exploitation. The full-day summit will feature experts from law enforcement, federal agencies (FTC, SEC, VA), and local prosecutors who will discuss fraud prevention, best practices for financial institutions, prosecution strategies, and resources to protect Texas's aging population. The event is open to professionals in adult protective services, legal, banking, healthcare, law enforcement, and social services, with registration fees of $100 (through May 28) or $120 thereafter.

The FBI warns of a rapidly spreading scam involving fake discount medical insurance plans that have cost victims millions of dollars. Fraudsters posing as insurance representatives use unsolicited contact and false urgency to convince people to pay for non-existent coverage, often promising full medical/dental benefits, preferred doctor access, and bonus benefits like grocery or gas aid. Documented cases include a Pennsylvania couple who received emergency room bills they thought were covered and a Texas senior who had to cancel his credit card to stop unauthorized charges after enrolling in a fraudulent dental plan.

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The FBI issued a nationwide alert about fraudulent "discount" medical insurance schemes targeting seniors and other Americans, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. Scammers impersonate legitimate insurance companies through unsolicited calls, texts, and emails, using high-pressure tactics to pressure victims into enrolling in fake plans that provide no actual coverage when medical services are needed. Documented cases include victims in Washington, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Maryland who were denied coverage claims, subjected to unauthorized charges, and refused refunds after discovering the plans were fraudulent.

Christine Joan Echohawk, 54, of Pawnee, Oklahoma was charged with five felonies for laundering approximately $1.5 million obtained through online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) in Florida, Utah, and Texas between September and December 2024. The victims, who believed they were in romantic relationships with a man using the alias "Maurice Dinero," sent funds via Apple gift cards, cash, checks, and wire transfers to accounts Echohawk controlled, which she converted to cryptocurrency and forwarded to an unknown suspect. If convicted, Echohawk faces 24 to 62 years in prison and up to $260,

The "wrong number" text scam is surging in Texas, where scammers initiate contact with seemingly innocent messages like "Is this Kevin?" to verify active phone numbers, then build rapport over days or weeks before soliciting money or sensitive information through romance scams or investment schemes. Texans are advised not to respond to unknown numbers, to block and report suspicious texts to their carrier (7726), and to avoid clicking links or switching to other messaging apps, while warning vulnerable relatives of this social engineering threat.

A phishing scam targeting Texas Gmail users involves fraudulent emails that impersonate Google or banking institutions, directing victims to fake login pages to steal credentials. Developer Nick Johnson fell victim after clicking a link in an email claiming he had been served a subpoena and needed to upload documents. Google advises users to enable account recovery options (backup email and phone number) and ignore any emails requesting passwords or verification codes, as legitimate Google communications never request this information via email.

A retired Texas man lost $500,000 after being manipulated through an online romance scam that convinced him to liquidate his 401(k) and invest in cryptocurrency on a fraudulent platform. The scammer used fake documentation showing investment growth to maintain the deception, leaving the victim forced to sell his house and seek employment to recover from the financial devastation.

Shawn Shoemaker, a volunteer at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center in Houston, was arrested for felony theft after collecting $120-$128 from approximately 30 senior citizens by falsely promising them a Black History Month trip to Atlanta and Memphis. After collecting the money, Shoemaker repeatedly postponed the trip dates until the seniors realized the trip would not happen. The Houston Health Department barred Shoemaker from all its programs and partnered with law enforcement to address the fraud.

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Texas man Chas Carrier, operating a "We Buy Ugly Houses" franchise, defrauded dozens of retirees by soliciting investment in real estate deals with promises of guaranteed monthly payments and high returns, while secretly leveraging the same properties multiple times and misrepresenting collateral. Victims including Ronald Carver, who invested $700,000 with his father, lost millions in retirement savings when payments stopped in 2024, with one investor's father dying shortly after learning of the loss. Despite red flags dating to 2016 and warnings from title insurance companies by 2020, the HomeVestors franchisor claimed no responsibility, and Carrier only confessed when

Two women, Gina Hernandez and Elsa Vasquez, were arrested in May for impersonating nurses at a senior living community in Central Texas and stealing from elderly residents. The suspects would pose as healthcare professionals to distract victims during fake health evaluations, then steal their wallets and financial documents; they later used stolen bank cards to make unauthorized purchases at Austin-area businesses. Hernandez faces 11 felony charges and Vasquez faces 9 felony charges, with authorities investigating additional victims across the region from Georgetown to Kyle.

This article does not contain information about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. It covers a holiday charity ride event and a children's book by a local author. It is not relevant to the Elderus fraud research database and does not require a summary for that purpose.

A Texas teenager created an app called Shield Seniors after her 86-year-old grandfather nearly fell victim to an impersonation scam in which a caller posing as a family member requested $2,000. Unable to find existing resources to help prevent such fraud, the teenager developed an app specifically designed for older adults that provides information on recognizing scams, enables users to report fraudulent activity, and uses AI chatbots to offer real-time guidance and education.

Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington received funding to develop and test inoculation-based messaging designed to protect people against online romance scams. The project applies inoculation theory—exposing individuals to mild versions of deceptive tactics to build resistance—to create evidence-based public awareness campaigns, with the goal of filling gaps in current scam prevention efforts that often lack effectiveness. The team will develop and evaluate video scenarios simulating realistic online interactions to measure how well different inoculation strategies help users resist emotionally manipulative persuasion tactics used by scammers.

A Texas teenager created an app called Shield Seniors after her 86-year-old grandfather nearly fell victim to an impersonation scam in which a caller posing as a family member requested $2,000. Unable to find existing online resources to help protect her grandfather, Tejasvi developed the app to help seniors recognize common scams, report fraud, and receive real-time advice through AI chatbots.

Elder fraud targeting seniors age 60+ is rapidly increasing, with nearly 72% of scams initiated using personal data scraped from the internet or purchased from data brokers, enabling criminals to conduct highly personalized attacks like AI-powered grandchild impersonation and spoofed bank calls. Texas seniors lost an average of $51,700 per complaint, while Arizona experienced the highest elder fraud rate per capita at 3.5 cases per 1,000 seniors. Protection strategies include freezing credit, using call-filtering apps, employing password managers, discussing scams with family, and utilizing data removal services to scrub personal information from people-search sites and data brokers.