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**Summary:** A PrivacyJournal study ranking states by online dating safety—based on romance scams, ID theft, fraud, sex offender presence, and STD reports per 100,000 population—found Texas ranks 43rd out of 50 states. Nevada ranked last (most dangerous) while Vermont ranked first (safest).

Researchers ranked U.S. states by online dating safety based on romance scams, fraud, identity theft, and violent crime rates, finding Texas among the top 10 most dangerous states for online dating, while Nevada ranked as the most dangerous due to prevalence of scams. Vermont was identified as the safest state, though researchers note this may reflect its smaller, older population rather than actual safety measures. The study did not specify dollar amounts or particular victim cases but highlighted romance scams as a significant concern in high-risk states.

A PrivacyJournal study ranking online dating safety across U.S. states found Nevada, Georgia, and Alaska to be the most dangerous for romance scams and related fraud, while Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine emerged as the safest. Texas ranked 43rd out of 50 states, placing it in the top 10 most dangerous, based on per capita metrics including reported romance scams, identity theft, fraud, sex offenders, and STD cases.

A Tallmadge police sergeant investigated a 2019 online dating scam that defrauded a local woman of $60,000 and uncovered a multi-state money-laundering operation involving victims across Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas, including one couple who lost $375,000. The investigation led to the arrest of six people in Rhode Island who were processing fraudulent funds through compromised bank accounts and money orders. The FBI reported 19,000 romance scam complaints nationally in 2022 with losses exceeding $739 million, typically targeting women over 40.

Darlington Akporugo, 46, a Nigerian resident of Fulshear, Texas, was charged with conspiring with Jasmin Sood to defraud over a dozen elderly Americans in a romance scam that operated between 2015 and 2022, resulting in approximately $3.1 million in losses. The perpetrators created fictitious online personas on dating platforms to build trust with elderly, often widowed victims before convincing them to transfer money to fraudster-controlled accounts, and in at least one case, approached a victim in person to drive her to banks and gain control of her banking access devices. Both defendants face up to 30 years imprisonment on wire frau

Darlington Akporugo, 46, and Jasmin Sood, 35, from Fulshear, Texas, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for operating romance scams targeting elderly victims, particularly widows, through social media and online dating sites between 2015 and 2022. The pair used fake identities to build trust with over a dozen victims nationwide before requesting money, defrauding them of a total of $3.1 million; in at least one case, they approached a victim in person and gained control of her banking access devices. If convicted, both face up to 30 years in prison on wire fraud charges, with

An elderly homeowner in Luling, Texas received an unsolicited package of precious metals worth approximately $100,000 after being contacted by a scammer posing as customer support; police intervention prevented the fraudster from collecting the package and led to the arrest of California resident Shalin Amin on money laundering charges. The scam targeted the victim by creating urgency and manipulating them into accepting a shipment they never requested. Authorities recommend avoiding unsolicited precious metals purchases, safeguarding personal information, and reporting suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or the Elder Justice Hotline.

College students, particularly those ages 20 and below, have experienced the fastest growth rate in scam losses since 2017, with scams taking forms such as fraudulent concert ticket sales, fake employment offers, and phishing emails. Texas State students are especially vulnerable due to the university's location between Austin and San Antonio, where scammers exploit students seeking discounted concert tickets and job opportunities. To combat this trend, universities should implement fraud prevention workshops, integrate scam awareness into orientation programs, improve email security filters, and educate students on safe transaction practices such as using PayPal's "Goods and Services" program.

This educational piece provides five key scam prevention tips for Texas residents: legitimate prizes do not require upfront payment; real law enforcement will not threaten arrest or deportation by phone to collect debts; legitimate businesses allow time for decision-making rather than pressuring immediate commitment; scammers use untraceable payment methods like wire transfers and gift cards; and government agencies will never call unsolicited to request sensitive personal information. The advice emphasizes recognizing pressure tactics, verifying caller identity, and avoiding irreversible payment methods as primary safeguards against common fraud schemes.

Former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health-care fraud after ordering unnecessary medical tests through a Texas lab in exchange for $260,000 in kickbacks, working with Dr. Jeffrey Gallups. The scheme involved submitting fraudulent insurance claims exceeding $2.5 million to private insurers, which paid the lab nearly $700,000, and included obstruction of justice when Oxendine instructed Gallups to lie to compliance officers and federal agents. Oxendine faces sentencing in July.

Ijeoma Okoro, a 33-year-old Denton County woman, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in a large romance scam operation targeting elderly victims in North Texas between 2015 and 2020, with an order to pay $2.2 million in restitution. Okoro was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering; scammers used fake identities and online dating sites to build trust with divorced or widowed victims before requesting financial assistance. The operation involved 11 arrests in 2021, with several co-conspirators receiving lesser sentences ranging from 2 to 37 months

Ijeoma Okoro, 33, from Aubrey, Texas, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution for operating romance scams targeting elderly victims through dating websites like Match.com and Zoosk. Okoro and her coconspirators posed as romantic interests, built trust with vulnerable victims (often divorced or widowed), then fabricated emergencies requiring financial assistance and requested money they promised to repay. Four additional codefendants received sentences ranging from 24 to 37 months for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the scheme.

Plano Police Detective Vidmar was honored for his role in recovering over $8 million in stolen funds from victims of sweetheart scams, business email compromises, and other fraudulent crimes through his work with the U.S. Secret Service North Texas Financial Crimes Task Force. Working with Judge Ben Smith, Vidmar secured nearly 70 expedited search and seizure warrants targeting fraudulent bank accounts in Plano, Texas, which allowed authorities to freeze assets before criminals could withdraw stolen money. The collaborative effort successfully returned 99.8% of the recovered funds to victims across the United States and Canada over a 3.5-year period.

A Lake Charles, Louisiana man lost $300 in gift cards when two of four cards totaling $300 were drained before he could use them—one card was emptied in Ohio the same day it was purchased in Texas, while another was drained in Texas while in his possession in Louisiana. Scammers employ tactics including tampering with cards at retail kiosks, replacing PIN information, and purchasing additional gift cards to obscure the money trail, making resolution difficult for victims. Experts recommend examining gift cards for signs of tampering before purchase and treating them like cash.

Two suspects were arrested in Moorpark, California on March 7, 2024, for identity theft and conspiracy charges after intercepting packages containing significant sums of cash mailed by elderly victims from Texas, South Dakota, and Florida who had fallen victim to scams. Detectives identified the scheme after the first victim's adult child reported their elderly mother had mailed currency to the suspects' address, leading investigators to surveil and apprehend the two men when they arrived to retrieve a third package from a Florida victim. The suspects face multiple felony charges including grand theft, conspiracy, theft by false pretenses, and identity theft from an elder or dependent adult.

Medicare fraud targeting area seniors involves billing schemes for medical items not received, particularly urinary catheters; in recent cases documented by county aging officials, one senior's fraudulent claim involved 2,000 catheters with Medicare paying $14,613.80 to a fraudulent supplier while the senior's out-of-pocket cost reached $3,728. Similar scams originating from companies in New York, Texas, and Illinois have also targeted seniors with false claims for back braces and other medical supplies. Authorities urge seniors to review Medicare correspondence carefully and report fraudulent activity to Medicare at (800) 633-4227 or Kansas Senior Medicare Patrol at (800) 432-

A North Texas family lost approximately $20,000 after falling victim to a gift card scam involving fake dog breeders on Facebook. The scammers requested payment via gift cards for deposits and various fees (shots, transportation, crates, sedation drugs), then continuously requested additional funds with excuses before claiming the dog was dead and demanding fees for a replacement. According to the FTC, Americans lost $690 million in gift card payment scams in less than three years, with this fraud type increasing 50% year-over-year in 2023, representing a growing threat affecting victims across all education and income levels.

Susan Duncan lost $30,000 to a roofing scam contractor in Henderson, Texas, after paying upfront for roof replacement work on her home and her late mother's property in summer 2023. The company, Scope, repeatedly delayed the project with weather-related excuses until Duncan discovered an eviction notice on their office door in October 2023, revealing the fraud. A local roofing company later completed the work for free, and the Better Business Bureau advises consumers to obtain multiple estimates, verify licensing, avoid full upfront payments, and use the payment-by-thirds method to protect against similar contractor scams.

A North Texas family lost nearly $20,000 to gift card scams while attempting to purchase dogs online through Facebook, first sending deposits to a fraudulent breeder and then falling victim to a second scam involving a Bassett Hound that the scammer claimed died. Gift card payment scams have surged across the country, with Americans losing $690 million in less than three years and a 50% year-over-year increase in reported cases in 2023, exploiting emotional vulnerabilities and the difficulty of tracing digital payments.

Romance scammers are systematically stealing images of U.S. military personnel to create fake profiles on social media and dating sites, deceiving victims into sending money. In 2023, the FTC received over 64,000 romance scam reports resulting in $1.14 billion in losses (median $2,000 per victim), with one Air Force flight chief's photos alone linked to $180,000 in victim losses. The article outlines red flags including requests for money, inability to video chat, and claims about bank access issues, and notes that a Texas man was sentenced to over three years in prison in 2023 for using stolen military identities to defraud victims of

Texas resident Hector Medina Jr., 39, was arrested for operating a wire fraud scheme targeting high-profile defendants including former congressman George Santos and actor Danny Masterson, posing as a prosecutor who claimed he could dismiss their criminal cases in exchange for cash. Medina allegedly solicited $900,000 from Santos and contacted Masterson and two other public figures before being apprehended; he admitted the fraud scheme was motivated by over $100,000 in gambling debts and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Pig-butchering romance scams have stolen over $75 billion globally between January 2020 and February 2024, with criminals primarily based in Southeast Asia using blockchain to move funds to crypto exchanges, according to a study by University of Texas professor John Griffin. Victims are typically lured through fake text messages into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments and can lose thousands to millions of dollars, while those sending the scam messages are often trafficking victims forced to participate. In response, UK law enforcement will gain authority from April 2024 onwards to freeze and seize suspected crypto assets linked to crimes without requiring a conviction.

This article does not appear to be relevant to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It describes a domestic disturbance and property destruction incident in Austin, Texas, where a man with an outstanding felony warrant was taken into custody by police after a SWAT response, with no injuries reported. This event falls outside the scope of Elderus's elder fraud research database.

**Summary:** The Smith County Sheriff's Office is warning of telephone scams in which callers impersonate law enforcement officers, specifically claiming to be Sgt. Tim Jones or Sgt. Justin Hall from the civil processing division, to pressure victims into sending money. These scams prey on elderly and vulnerable people through scare tactics, though legitimate law enforcement will never call demanding payment; residents can verify suspicious calls by contacting the sheriff's office non-emergency line.

Between July 2020 and February 2021, Lisa Lynn Smith defrauded an elderly Plano man of money by falsely claiming she needed funds for medical and housing expenses and promising repayment from a legal settlement; the victim wrote checks, withdrew cash, and allowed her to use his American Express card. Smith was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $66,485.98 in restitution to her victim. The case highlights Texas's efforts to combat elder financial exploitation through updated state laws and protective services for vulnerable older adults.

Seven people were indicted on federal charges for operating a romance scam that defrauded victims of approximately $8 million between March 2018 and June 2019. The scheme, primarily operated by a Nigerian group known as the "Yahoo boys," involved creating fake online personas to build trust with victims—many of them elderly—before requesting money under false pretenses; the defendants in the U.S. (located in Texas, Canada, and Nigeria) and a group of "Utah Money Transmitters" facilitated money laundering by opening financial institution accounts to collect victim funds and distribute proceeds to the scammers overseas. Many victims lost their life savings and retirement funds in the scheme.

Multiple viewers reported receiving Medicare mail addressed to other people, raising identity theft concerns during the annual Medicare open enrollment period (October 15-December 7), when scams typically increase. The Better Business Bureau's Texas Senior Medicare Patrol recommends not opening misaddressed mail, contacting Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE to verify personal information, and monitoring accounts for unauthorized charges, as mail mix-ups may indicate identity theft or other fraudulent activity such as unauthorized medical equipment charges or impersonation calls.

Gabriel Aguilar, a University of Texas at Arlington professor, was nearly victimized by a fake job offer scam involving a fraudulent check years ago; this experience inspired his current research on how artificial intelligence tools like chatbots, deepfakes, and voice clones are making scams more convincing, particularly targeting Latino communities who face obstacles including limited digital access and financial stress. Aguilar's published study and teaching methods focus on educating students to recognize AI-powered manipulation tactics—including fake job listings, impersonated government websites, and voice cloning—by teaching them to identify tone, rhythm, and context in deceptive messages. He emphasizes that AI did not revolutionize

Cybercriminals are increasingly using sophisticated phishing emails impersonating trusted coworkers and employers to trick recipients into opening malicious attachments or clicking fraudulent links, with AI-generated content making these scams harder to detect. A Texas resident nearly fell victim to such a scam when she received a suspicious email appearing to come from her employer but containing an unopened attachment; she protected herself by changing her password, running virus scans, and enrolling in identity theft protection. To fully protect against these workplace email scams, individuals should review login histories for unauthorized access, enable two-factor authentication on critical accounts, alert their IT department of suspicious emails, and keep all software updated to prevent malware exploitation.

Americans lost nearly $250 million to scams using Bitcoin ATMs in 2024, with the FBI reporting this figure more than doubled from the previous year. An 85-year-old Texas woman, Fran Bates, was defrauded of over $40,000 after a scammer posing as her bank convinced her to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM kiosk, with the criminal directing her actions remotely. Experts warn that Bitcoin ATMs have become scammers' preferred method due to the speed and irreversibility of transactions, prompting calls for stricter regulations and leading to lawsuits against major ATM operators like Athena Bitcoin.

Platte Canyon Capital sued DJE Texas Management Group's former chief Devin Elder for fraud and breach of contract related to the July sale of a 268-unit San Antonio apartment complex, seeking over $1 million in damages. Elder allegedly misrepresented the property's 90%+ occupancy rate (actual rate was about 15% lower), failed to disclose tenant delinquencies, and improperly collected $52,000 in rent for two months after the sale. The lawsuit is part of widening legal fallout against Elder and DJE, which also faces FBI investigation for money laundering and wire fraud allegations.

This educational piece from the Better Business Bureau identifies common scams targeting older adults, including fake investments, fraudulent online purchases, medical scams, and romance fraud. Dan Parsons, BBB President for Metropolitan Houston and South Texas, provides guidance on recognizing red flags and hiring trustworthy businesses to help seniors and their families safeguard their money and avoid becoming fraud victims.

According to a 2025 report by KHOU, Generation Z and young adults aged 20-29 in Texas are losing more money to scams than seniors aged 70-79, driven by their high daily online activity and vulnerability to phishing, fake job, and rental scams when facing time pressure. The Federal Trade Commission findings highlight that young people's desperation during job or housing searches makes them susceptible to sophisticated scams, including those using AI. The article advises Texans of all ages to avoid sharing personal information online, verify trusted retailers and contractors, and research charitable organizations before donating to prevent falling victim to common scams circulating in the state.

A 68-year-old Texas woman named Cathy lost $487,000 of her retirement savings to an online investment scam and also convinced her brother to invest, resulting in his $110,000 loss; when the fraudulent investment group froze accounts and disappeared, Cathy was left living on $2,000 monthly Social Security with $33,000 in debt and no viable recovery options. Financial advisors on "The Ramsey Show" told her that the retirement funds were unrecoverable and recommended she seek employment to rebuild her finances, as options like bankruptcy or reverse mortgages would not adequately address her situation.

The "Cloud Boost" scam defrauded multiple victims in the Corpus Christi area by promising easy money for watching videos and boosting social media posts, with victims losing thousands of dollars. The scheme operated through various tactics including small initial payouts to build trust, pressure to purchase higher-level packages, fake withdrawal fees, and crypto payment requirements, with one victim, Melissa Brewer, losing approximately $15,000 after initially investing $510. The Better Business Bureau advises potential victims not to invest upfront money, to cut off contact with scammers, report the fraud to the BBB and FTC, and warn others to avoid similar schemes.

A North Texas small business owner fell victim to a sophisticated impersonation scam in which a caller posed as a Denton County Sheriff's officer, claiming she had a warrant for arrest related to COVID-19 pandemic relief loan fraud. The scammer used forged court documents, a convincing Texas accent, and panic tactics to convince her to pay a $3,500 bond through a payment app before her bank flagged and ultimately released the fraudulent transfer. Experts warn that AI voice-cloning technology and readily available personal information are making scams increasingly convincing and sophisticated.

According to a Federal Trade Commission report, young adults aged 20-29 in Texas are losing more money to scams than seniors aged 70-79, contrary to common assumptions. Young Texans are frequently targeted by phishing scams, fake job listings, and rental scams, particularly when they are time-pressured while searching for employment or housing. The report recommends that all age groups avoid sharing personal information online and verify the legitimacy of requests before sending money.

Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old high school senior from Frisco, Texas, was named 2025 TIME Kid of the Year for creating Shield Seniors, a website that helps older adults identify and report fraudulent emails and texts. Inspired by her 85-year-old grandfather nearly falling victim to an email spoofing scam requesting $2,000, Manoj developed the platform in response to FBI data showing seniors lost nearly $5 billion to scams in 2024. The website, still in private preview, aims to reduce stigma around elder fraud victimization and empower seniors to report scams.

This article is not relevant to the Elderus database. It describes a kitten rescue by firefighters in Texas and does not involve elder fraud, scams, elder abuse, or financial exploitation of seniors.

Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old from Collin County, Texas, was named Time magazine's 2025 Kid of the Year for developing Shield Seniors, an AI-powered platform designed to help seniors identify, analyze, and report online scams. Inspired when her grandfather nearly fell victim to a scam impersonating a family member, Tejasvi created the application to educate older adults about cybersecurity, addressing a critical problem where seniors lose more money to scams than any other age group, with internet crime losses exceeding $16 billion annually.

A former NASA space toxicologist and her husband pleaded guilty to mortgage fraud after fabricating income documents and pay stubs to obtain an $850,000 home loan in Texas in 2017, then defaulting on multiple personal loans used for the down payment and falsely claiming identity theft, resulting in lenders charging off $276,709 in debt. The couple faces up to five years in federal prison, $250,000 in fines, and must pay $276,709 in restitution; additionally, they risk losing the Missouri City home. The case reflects a broader trend, with mortgage fraud detected in approximately 1 in 116 applications in early 2025, with increases

Texas implemented a switch from paper temporary license plates to metal plates effective July 1 to combat widespread fraud, where criminals had been illegally printing and selling over 500,000 fake tags online. The change has created implementation challenges with dealership technology systems, but law enforcement officials report the fraud risk is significantly lower with metal plates, though criminals have already begun adapting by placing stickers on blank plates. The policy shift was strongly advocated by the family of a teenager killed by a vehicle displaying a fraudulent paper tag.

Texas implemented a shift from paper temporary license plates to metal plates effective July 1, 2024, to combat widespread fraud involving illegally printed tags sold online and through messaging apps. The change was prompted partly by the death of teenager Terrin Solbrig, who was hit by a truck bearing a fraudulent tag; in July, four individuals were sentenced for selling over 500,000 illegal Texas tags. While the transition has caused initial technology issues at dealerships and the state was reportedly unprepared for implementation, law enforcement acknowledges the new system significantly reduces fraud risk, though criminals have already begun adapting by placing stickers on blank metal plates.

In February 2024, 16-year-old Tejasvi Manoj from Texas was inspired to act after her 85-year-old grandfather nearly fell victim to a $2,000 impersonation scam. She launched Shield Seniors, a web platform with AI-powered tools that help seniors recognize, analyze, and report online scams through educational resources, a chatbot, email/text analysis (95% accuracy), and direct reporting options. The initiative addresses a critical need, as seniors lost nearly $5 billion to online scams in 2024—a 32% increase from the previous year.

In February 2024, 16-year-old Tejasvi Manoj from Frisco, Texas, was inspired to create Shield Seniors—a comprehensive cybersecurity platform—after her 85-year-old grandfather nearly fell victim to an email scam requesting $2,000 from a fake relative. According to FBI data, seniors face escalating threats, with fraud targeting individuals over 60 reaching $5 billion in losses in 2024, a 32% increase year-over-year. Shield Seniors offers educational resources, an AI-powered scam analyzer with 95% accuracy, a chatbot for cybersecurity questions, and reporting tools to help older adults

Tejasvi Manoj, a 17-year-old Indian-American from Texas, was named TIME's Kid of the Year 2025 for her "Shield Seniors" project, which educates elderly individuals about online scams and digital fraud threats. The initiative includes a website that analyzes fraudulent communications, provides cyber literacy resources, and offers reporting links to help seniors protect themselves from cyber scams. Manoj's work addresses the growing vulnerability of seniors to digital fraud while she continues other community service efforts.

Nadeem Gul, 54, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for defrauding three companies out of $257,000 total. Gul impersonated executives of fake wholesale distribution companies (operating under names like Mega Liquidations Group) and convinced victims in Maryland, Arizona, and Texas to submit purchase orders and wire payments between June and November 2021, none of whom received any merchandise. The court ordered Gul to repay his victims.

Nueces County, Texas experienced five cyberattacks in July, with three resulting in approximately $2 million in losses, primarily through Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes where fraudsters impersonate vendors to redirect payments to their accounts. BEC scams are among the top three fraud schemes targeting organizations, along with bill pay fraud and phishing emails, and can be prevented by verifying payment requests through official contact information rather than using details provided in suspicious communications.

A San Jose widow in her 70s lost nearly $1 million to a "pig butchering" scam, a romance fraud scheme where scammers pose as potential romantic partners to gain victims' trust before manipulating them into sending money for fake cryptocurrency investments. The victim, Margaret Loke, was connected with a man claiming to be a businessman from Texas through Facebook, and after building what seemed like a genuine relationship through messaging, he convinced her to wire her entire life savings to overseas accounts. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious of online romantic connections offering investment opportunities, verify identities through video calls before any financial discussions, and never send money to anyone you haven't met in person—especially for cryptocurrency or investment schemes.

Federal prosecutors charged 235 individuals along the Texas border in a coordinated enforcement operation from November 21-27, with the most alarming case involving a driver caught transporting 51 undocumented immigrants hidden in a refrigerated produce trailer at 55 degrees—creating dangerous conditions with limited escape routes. The charges include 146 felony reentry cases (many involving prior criminal records), 70 illegal entry cases, and 17 human smuggling cases, targeting both smuggling networks and individuals with histories of serious crimes attempting to re-enter the country. Anyone who suspects human trafficking or smuggling should contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) or local law enforcement immediately, as these operations often endanger lives.