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Three Southern California men were arrested in connection with a $10 million fraud scheme that targeted at least 100 elderly victims through phone calls, emails, and fake real estate offers between fall 2021 and the present. The defendants created fake identities, shell companies, and fraudulent bank accounts to impersonate law enforcement and company employees, convincing victims their accounts were compromised and tricking them into transferring funds or purchase fake property. If convicted of money laundering conspiracy, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Drivers nationwide have received fraudulent texts impersonating toll collection services (TxTag in Texas, EZDriveMA in Massachusetts, and FasTrak in California) claiming unpaid fees and urging immediate payment via suspicious links. Clicking these links directs victims to phishing sites designed to steal personal, financial, and identity information for identity theft and fraudulent purchases. State transportation agencies recommend drivers delete such messages immediately, report them as spam, and note that legitimate toll agencies do not send unsolicited payment demand texts.

A resurgence of toll-charge texting scams is circulating, where recipients receive messages claiming unpaid tolls in states they may or may not have visited, with links directing them to fake websites requesting payment. Law enforcement officials note that scammers increasingly replicate legitimate toll company messaging (like FastTrak or EZ Pass) and create sophisticated fake websites, making scams harder to identify, though legitimate toll agencies never request payment via text and instead send physical mail with license plate photos. Police advise recipients to verify they actually visited the state in question and to research any suspicious requests before responding, as scammers are becoming increasingly skilled at mimicking legitimate communications across multiple platforms including email and phone calls.

Two Southern California men were arrested for operating a $10 million fraud and money laundering scheme targeting over 100 victims, predominantly elderly individuals. Using fake identification documents and shell companies, the defendants posed as law enforcement and company employees via phone and email to convince victims their accounts were compromised, then redirected them to fraudulent accounts controlled by the perpetrators; they also posed as real estate sellers to solicit wire transfers and checks. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted of money laundering conspiracy.

Julie Anne Darrah, a Santa Maria investment advisor and president of Vivid Financial Management Inc., pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing approximately $2.25 million from elderly clients between November 2016 and July 2023 by obtaining unauthorized control of their assets and liquidating their holdings without consent. Darrah exploited her clients' trust by convincing them to grant her power of attorney and trustee status, then used the stolen funds for personal expenses, property purchases, and luxury vehicles, leaving some victims unable to afford end-of-life care; she also defrauded an acquiring investment firm of $5.4 million through misrepresentation. She faces up to

Julie Anne Darrah, a 52-year-old Santa Barbara County investment advisor, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing approximately $2.25 million from elderly clients between November 2016 and July 2023 through her company Vivid Financial Management Inc. Darrah gained clients' trust by posing as a caretaker figure, then obtained control of their assets through forged documents and unauthorized liquidations, using the funds for personal purchases including properties and luxury vehicles, leaving some victims unable to afford end-of-life care. She faces up to 20 years in prison and has been ordered to pay $2,416,511 in restitution.

Jane received a suspicious text claiming to be from her bank Kinecta notifying her of a $950.44 transfer approval to an unfamiliar person, with a link to cancel the transaction—a classic smishing scam designed to steal login credentials or install malware. The message exhibited multiple red flags including artificial urgency, suspicious links, brand impersonation, and unsolicited contact. The article provides guidance on recognizing such scams and protecting oneself through verification practices, strong antivirus software, and never clicking suspicious links.

California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) shut down over 26 crypto scam websites in 2024 through its Crypto Scam Tracker and partnership with the state DOJ, uncovering $4.6 million in consumer losses across 2,668 complaints. The agency identified seven new scam types including bitcoin mining, crypto gaming, and crypto job scams, and increased its posted alerts to 303 while receiving over 400,000 unique visitors to the tracker. Authorities urge consumers to report suspected scams immediately, verify website domains, and avoid sending money to unknown contacts, as scammers employ increasingly sophisticated deception and emotional manipulation tactics.

This educational webinar hosted by the Los Angeles Public Library and presented by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation provides guidance on protecting oneself from cryptocurrency scams and fraud. The session targets individuals new to or uncertain about digital currencies and offers practical strategies for safeguarding crypto assets in personal wallets.

A 25-year-old caregiver named Heather Moore was arrested in Ojai, California for financially exploiting an 81-year-old elderly woman by altering and forging checks to steal over $3,000. Moore's fraud was discovered when a vigilant bookkeeper noticed suspicious check alterations and reported the scheme to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Moore was arrested on January 23 and charged with elder abuse, forgery, and grand theft.

A 29-year-old San Francisco man was sentenced to 87 months in prison for using Bitcoin to launder earnings from selling MDMA on the dark web, converting cryptocurrency proceeds through multiple financial accounts to hide their illegal origins. His case was part of Operation Crypto Runner, a multi-agency federal initiative launched in November 2022 targeting cryptocurrency-based money laundering and financial crimes. The conviction reflects a broader law enforcement concern: cryptocurrency laundering exceeded $40 billion globally in 2024, with drug trafficking organizations increasingly exploiting digital assets' anonymity and ease of transfer, including international partnerships between Mexican cartels and Chinese money laundering networks.

Alfred Tribbey, age 55, was convicted of nine counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child and sentenced to 98 years in prison for sexually abusing a child victim starting at age 10 between 2020 and 2022, using his position of trust to gain access and threatening to kill the victim and her family to maintain silence. The abuse ended when a family member discovered Tribbey assaulting the victim; under California law, Tribbey will become eligible for Elder Parole review after serving approximately 17 years of his sentence.

AARP New York is advocating for stronger anti-fraud protections after over 4,300 older New Yorkers lost more than $200 million to scams in 2023, making New York the fourth-highest state for elder fraud losses. Governor Hochul's executive budget proposes training bank employees to identify and halt suspicious transactions to combat this growing problem affecting seniors' quality of life.

Friday Jeremiah Adejoh, a 30-year-old Nigerian, is wanted by U.S. prosecutors for allegedly operating a romance scam that defrauded an Orange County, California e-sports athlete of $1.3 million in bitcoin. Working with co-conspirators, Adejoh created a fake dating profile under the name "Mabel" and a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform called "Whalepool.tech" to trick the victim into depositing bitcoin, which they promised would generate investment returns. Shortly after cashing out the stolen cryptocurrency in 2020, Adejoh purchased two Dubai properties worth approximately $860,000 combined, and currently res

This is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a privacy notice from TribLIVE.com informing California users of their data privacy rights and offering options to either restrict data collection or enable full site features. This content falls outside the scope of Elderus, which focuses on fraud and elder abuse research.

California's Attorney General filed felony charges against the owner and facility manager of Granite Bay Residential Care Home for defrauding Medi-Cal of over $500,000 between January 2020 and September 2022. The defendants billed for services not provided, misappropriated funds for personal luxury purchases, and stole electronics purchased with program money. The charges include false claims, conspiracy, and grand theft by embezzlement.

The California Franchise Tax Board issued a warning during tax season about persistent scams targeting taxpayers, particularly text message schemes directing victims to fraudulent FTB website replicas designed to steal personal and banking information. State Controller Malia M. Cohen advised taxpayers to guard sensitive information and verify any communications from tax agencies directly rather than clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious messages. The FTB recommends contacting them at (800) 852-5711 or the IRS at (800) 892-1040 if taxpayers receive suspicious correspondence.

ICE impersonators and other scammers are increasingly targeting immigrant communities, capitalizing on fears related to deportation policies, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The article provides protective guidance including: verify federal officials through official identification and government channels only, never sign documents or provide personal/financial information to unsolicited callers, understand that legitimate ICE agents will not contact you via personal social media or request money, and be aware that "notario" or notary public titles do not indicate legal expertise in the United States. Impersonating a federal officer is illegal and punishable by fines or imprisonment.

Reports of individuals impersonating ICE agents have increased across the United States, with scammers contacting victims by phone, email, or in person to demand payment via cash, wire transfers, or gift cards while threatening arrest or deportation. Authorities advise immigrants to verify agent identities through official ICE field offices, avoid sharing original documents without verified government requirements, seek help only from licensed lawyers and accredited representatives, and report suspicious activity to local authorities, as legitimate federal agencies never demand payment over unsolicited contact.

**Summary:** San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office warned of an auto scam perpetrated by Romanian nationals targeting vehicle sellers on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. The scammers pose as buyers, bring accomplices who secretly pour oil on the engine during inspections to simulate mechanical problems, then pressure sellers into accepting drastically reduced offers; victims in Atascadero (January 18, 2025) and Los Osos (March 10, 2025) accepted below-market prices. The Sheriff's Office recommends meeting buyers in public places, never leaving the vehicle unattended, having a trusted mechanic inspect any suspected issues, and being cautious of unusually low offers.

An unlicensed room and board operator in Contra Costa County, California, was charged with felony grand theft after allegedly stealing money from an elderly resident's bank account through fraudulent withdrawals between May and September 2021 while the resident was hospitalized. The investigation, initiated by the California Department of Justice based on Adult Protective Services referral, found evidence of financial exploitation, neglect, psychological abuse, and isolation at the operator's unlicensed facilities. The defendant self-surrendered and is scheduled for arraignment on April 16, 2025.

A 68-year-old Oxford, Michigan woman lost nearly $500,000 in life savings to a romance scammer who impersonated "NCIS" actor Mark Harmon over a ten-month period beginning in April 2023. The victim sold her home and car to wire funds to the scammer, who claimed his money was tied up in California and he needed the loan to return from Italy, but disappeared after receiving the money. The Oakland County Sheriff's Department is investigating the case, and authorities note that such romance scams are increasingly common and often originate overseas, making recovery of funds difficult.

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.

Jiaci Liu pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after participating in a tech support scam targeting senior citizens in California and Arizona. Between June 2023 and his arrest, Liu collected over $202,500 from six victims (aged 63-83) who were tricked by fake pop-up warnings and fraudulent bank representatives into withdrawing cash. Liu's role involved collecting the withdrawn funds from victims' homes; he was arrested after a Poway resident became suspicious when instructed to hand over $28,000 to a supposed U.S. Marshals Service representative and contacted police instead.

A man pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after targeting senior citizens in California and Arizona through a tech support scam scheme. Between June 2022 and June 2023, Jiaci Liu and his co-conspirators defrauded six victims—ranging from their mid-70s to 83 years old—of over $202,500 by using fake pop-up alerts claiming computer viruses, then posing as bank representatives to convince victims to withdraw cash. Liu was arrested in June 2023 outside a Poway resident's home after attempting to collect $28,000; he is scheduled for sentencing in June 2025.

Priscilla Presley, 79, won a court ruling when a Santa Monica judge denied a motion by business associates Kevin Fialko and Brigitte Kruse to delay her fraud and elder abuse lawsuit. Presley alleges that Fialko and Kruse fraudulently separated her from trusted advisers and bilked her out of more than $1 million through entities formed under Florida law. The judge emphasized that the elder abuse claims, unique to the California case, were central to Presley's allegations and rejected the defendants' attempts to move the litigation to Florida.

Priscilla Presley won a procedural ruling in her California elder abuse lawsuit against ex-associates Brigitte Kruse, Kruse's husband, and investor Kevin Fialko, with a Los Angeles judge determining the case should proceed in California rather than Florida. Presley claims the defendants defrauded her out of more than $1 million through a scheme that involved gaining her trust, isolating her from family, and manipulating her into signing contracts that gave them controlling interest in her publicity rights. The judge emphasized that the elder abuse allegations—the "beating heart" of the case—center on California, where Presley resides and where the alleged abuse occurred.

Priscilla Presley won a preliminary ruling in her elder abuse lawsuit against former business associates Brigitte Kruse, Kevin Fialko, Vahe Sislyan, and Lynn Walker Wright, with a Los Angeles County judge determining California is the proper venue to hear the case. Presley alleges the defendants fraudulently convinced her to grant them control over her affairs and subsequently stole over $1 million, including earnings from the film *Priscilla* ($500,000) and her cosmetics deal ($349,900), while forcing her to sign contracts giving them 80 percent of her income. The judge rejected the defendants' motion to move the

A Chicago graduate student fell victim to an elaborate employment scam involving a fake remote proofreader job listing impersonating a legitimate California school serving international students; the victim provided personal information including her Social Security number and bank account details during the fake onboarding process, only recognizing the scam when asked to purchase equipment for reimbursement. Her Social Security number was found on the dark web within two days of enrolling in identity theft monitoring services, and the real school reported receiving inquiries from approximately 10 other victims of the same scam.

A father and son from the South Bay, along with three other licensed insurance agents, were arrested for an insurance fraud scheme that generated approximately $1.4 million in illegal commissions between 2017 and 2023. The group misled clients about life insurance policy terms and deceived insurance companies about policy sellers to collect unearned commissions from four carriers, affecting 28 victims primarily from the South Bay area. The investigation was initiated in 2021 following a complaint from an alleged victim's former lawyer, with two of the accused currently operating under license suspension.

A 24-year-old Indian national living in California was arrested on April 9, 2025, in Washington County, Wisconsin, after attempting to defraud an elderly woman through a tech support email scam that gained access to her bank account. The suspect convinced the victim that a large refund had been accidentally deposited and instructed her to prepare $26,500 in cash for courier pickup, but the victim became suspicious and contacted authorities, leading to the suspect's arrest during the coordinated pickup. The suspect confessed to conducting similar fraud operations across multiple states under instructions from relatives in India, with travel and expenses covered by the fraud operation.

Apache Junction police arrested two men accused of defrauding an 86-year-old woman of $82,000 through an email scam that began in March. The suspects posed as customer service representatives, claiming the victim had accidentally received a refund and pressured her to withdraw cash to repay them, eventually collecting money in person until police intervened. Both suspects were booked for conspiracy, money laundering, and fraud, with investigators indicating they may have been part of a larger operation based in California and suspecting additional victims exist.

An Ojai, California resident lost his life savings after scammers posing as U.S. Marshals Service agents called him and instructed him to send money to an out-of-state location. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office issued a warning about this government impersonation scam, which is part of a nationwide trend; in 2023 alone, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported a 60% spike in such scams that defrauded over 14,000 people (mostly older adults) of more than $390 million. The article advises victims to act quickly by contacting their financial institutions, freezing credit, and reporting to authorities,

Shekira Thompson, a former nursing assistant at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, was sentenced to 200 days in jail for stealing credit cards and cash from three elderly patients between November and December 2022, and fraudulently charging over $2,000 on the stolen credit cards at various retailers. Thompson pleaded guilty to two felony counts and one misdemeanor count of theft from an elder or dependent adult, plus felony identity theft, and was ordered to pay restitution to victims and banned from working as a caregiver for elder or dependent adults.

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.

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.

A Wyoming woman fell victim to a catfish scam after being signed up on a dating site by a family member, where she was contacted by multiple fraudulent profiles posing as widowed professionals with children in boarding school. One scammer, posing as a man from California, built her trust over months through text messages and gifts before manufacturing a crisis to solicit financial help, resulting in her sending "more money than she could afford" before discovering the fraud. The FTC estimates that half of dating site profiles are linked to scammers, and victims often remain silent due to embarrassment, leading to significant underreporting of these crimes.

Cyber scams cost Americans $16 billion in 2024, a 33% increase from the previous year, with California suffering the largest losses at $2.5 billion, according to FBI data. Elderly people accounted for nearly 30% of total monetary losses, with phishing/spoofing being the most common scam type at approximately 193,000 complaints. The FBI recommends verifying sender information, using strong passwords, avoiding wire transfers and gift card payments, and researching businesses before sharing personal or financial information online.

In September 2024, an employee in Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder's office fell victim to an email phishing scam and transferred $80,857.18 from Bazetta Township to a fraudulent Green Dot Bank account in California after a scammer impersonated the township's fiscal officer. Auditor Yoder was ordered by Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Sarah Thomas Kovoor to repay Bazetta Township after refusing to compensate them, despite having received advance warning from Ohio's Auditor of State about such scams targeting government offices and failing to share that information with her staff or implement adequate security measures like

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.

AARP California is launching the San Diego Scam Jam Tour with over 20 free fraud prevention events running May through July across San Diego County, offering education on recognizing common scams, cybersecurity workshops, and document shredding services. The initiative is a collaboration between AARP California, San Diego County, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, and Senior Tech Connect, and comes as elder fraud victims in San Diego County lost approximately $100 million in 2023, with nationwide losses reaching $12.5 billion that year.

Scammers in California's Bay Area are impersonating FasTrak, the state's electronic toll collection system, sending text messages claiming users owe small amounts (such as $3.95) with urgent warnings to pay or face penalties and links to fraudulent websites. The scams have become increasingly sophisticated, now featuring correct spelling, official logos, and convincing websites that mimic legitimate sites, making them difficult for consumers to identify. To protect themselves, recipients should verify messages directly through official FasTrak websites or customer service rather than clicking links in unsolicited texts.

A retired caregiver in Fresno, California discovered her identity had been stolen for a cryptocurrency investment scam on Facebook, where scammers posed as her offering "Expert Crypto Trader" services with falsified certificates. California has reported over 190,000 cases of alleged financial abuse against seniors from January 2022 to February 2025, with cryptocurrency, phishing, romance, and government impersonation scams being prevalent, particularly in Fresno and Madera counties. Experts recommend seniors avoid sending money to unknown individuals, verify claims through official sources, and report suspected fraud to the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

In April, a crew of grifters posing as landscapers targeted the Morrison Ranch neighborhood in Agoura Hills, California, perpetrating a mulch-laying scam that overcharged residents thousands of dollars using intimidation tactics. One homeowner agreed to mulch work at $10 per bag but was presented with 250 mostly empty bags and demanded $2,500; she negotiated down to $500 with help from an attorney, while a neighboring widow reportedly paid the full $4,000 demanded out of fear. The scam involved deceptive practices such as using empty bags and previously used bags with minimal mulch, with the perpetrators becoming aggressive and refusing to leave until

A 42-year-old Hawaii man pleaded guilty to wire fraud for defrauding a 78-year-old Orange County victim of approximately $1.8 million through false promises to broker the sale of his yacht and fraudulent transfer of his home into a controlled LLC. McCabe used fabricated documents to steal yacht ownership, diverted the proceeds to his personal account, and obtained $1 million in loans against the victim's residence, ultimately causing the home to be foreclosed and leaving the victim homeless. McCabe faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison at his October 16 sentencing hearing.

A retired caregiver in Fresno, California discovered her identity had been stolen in a cryptocurrency investment scam when friends congratulated her on launching a crypto business; the fraudulent Facebook post falsely claimed she was a certified "Expert Crypto Trader" and garnered 160+ responses, though the actual number of victims who sent money remains unknown. California's Department of Social Services received over 190,000 reports of financial abuse against seniors between January 2022 and February 2025, with experts noting that older adults are particularly vulnerable to sophisticated scams involving cryptocurrency, phishing, impersonation, and romance fraud, especially as AI technology makes these schemes more convincing.

A California caretaker was charged with felony embezzlement and theft from a dependent adult after stealing over $400,000 from a Pechanga Band of Indians citizen between October 2018 and January 2021. The caretaker used the victim's monthly tribal funds for personal expenses including vacations, dining, and mortgage payments. The California Attorney General's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse filed charges for embezzlement, theft from a dependent adult, and grand theft exceeding $100,000.

A Cameroonian criminal organization operating across southern California defrauded at least 100 elderly victims of over $10 million through phone and email scams impersonating law enforcement and bank employees, as well as fake real estate sales schemes. Leslie Kibula Bongajum, 34, is wanted on money laundering charges after three co-conspirators were arrested in February 2024; the group created 36 shell companies, 145 fraudulent bank accounts, and 32 fake mailboxes to launder stolen funds and facilitate their asylum system abuse. The conspiracy operated from at least November 2021 to the present, with victims tricked into transferring money to accounts controlled by