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The U.S. Marshals Service and FBI are warning of an imposter scam in which fraudsters claim to be law enforcement officials and threaten victims with arrest for alleged identity theft, jury duty violations, or false crimes, then demand payment via Bitcoin or other electronic transfers. Scammers use sophisticated tactics including spoofed government phone numbers, real law enforcement names and badge numbers, personal identifying information, and fake court documents to appear credible, often instructing victims to transfer 80% of their assets while staying on the phone. Texas residents have reported losses ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars in these scams, and victims are urged to report incidents to their local FBI office and the Federal Trade

Justin Banta, a 38-year-old Department of Justice employee, was arrested in Parker County, Texas on capital murder and tampering with evidence charges after allegedly giving his pregnant girlfriend abortion-inducing drugs (mifepristone and misoprostol) without her knowledge or consent at a coffee shop in October 2024. The victim, who was 6 weeks pregnant and had expressed her desire to keep the baby, suffered a miscarriage two days later; police found the same abortion drugs present in cookies he provided her and evidence he had ordered them online. Banta, who was married to another woman at the time, was released on bond and maintains his innocence through his attorney,

This article describes the Watchdog's attendance at a Texas Elder Justice Coalition summit that brought together law enforcement, prosecutors, regulators, and adult services professionals to address senior fraud. Rather than presenting findings directly, the article frames key learnings as a pop quiz to test readers' knowledge about elder scams.

Five members of a transnational organized crime syndicate were sentenced to federal prison in the Eastern District of Texas for defrauding approximately 100 victims of roughly $17 million through multiple schemes including romance scams, business email compromise, investor fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud beginning in January 2017. The defendants, ranging from 32 to 51 years old, received sentences between 9 and 40 years, with sentences totaling nearly 160 years combined. The scheme specifically targeted elderly and vulnerable persons, and the defendants laundered stolen funds through bank accounts and businesses in Africa and Asia.

Scammers in Bay City, Texas are impersonating business owners via phone calls to deceive employees into withdrawing cash from registers and depositing it into Bitcoin machines. The Bay City Police Department warns that scammers target both main office lines and personal cell phones, building trust through fabricated urgent scenarios before directing employees to empty cash registers. Authorities recommend businesses train staff to verify caller identity with managers and hang up if uncertain, as scammers continuously develop new tactics.

Five defendants in a transnational organized crime syndicate were sentenced to federal prison (109 to 480 months) for defrauding approximately 100 victims—including elderly persons, companies, and government entities—of roughly $17 million between 2017 and 2025 through online romance scams, business email compromise, investor fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud. The defendants laundered the stolen money through networks of bank accounts in Africa and Asia before being caught by an FBI-led multi-agency investigation in the Eastern District of Texas.

Five Nigerian fraudsters were sentenced to a combined 129 years in prison for operating a transnational scam that defrauded at least 100 victims—predominantly elderly—of over $17 million through romance scams, business email compromise schemes, and investment fraud between January 2017 and their arrest. The gang laundered the stolen funds through bank accounts and businesses in Africa and Asia, with some victims losing their life savings and being unable to recover financially.

**Summary:** Medicare fraud costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $60 billion annually, with recent investigations uncovering widespread schemes including unordered genetic testing kits, phantom billing for medical equipment, and catheter scams affecting individuals across Indiana and beyond. Notable prosecutions include a North Carolina man laundering $3 million in a $100 million DME scam and two Texas residents charged with $359 million in fraudulent genetic testing claims. Seniors should protect themselves by never sharing Medicare numbers with unverified callers, monitoring billing statements for unauthorized charges, and reporting suspicious activity to Medicare, the Senior Medicare Patrol, or the HHS Fraud Hotline.

A nationwide DMV scam involves cybercriminals texting people claiming they owe fines for traffic violations or unpaid tolls, threatening license revocation or vehicle registration suspension to pressure victims into clicking malicious links or paying money. These phishing scams, reported in Indiana, Ohio, Maine, Texas, and other states, use official-sounding language, fake ordinance codes, and threats of jail time or credit score damage to create urgency, but legitimate DMVs typically only send texts that users have opted into and never request payment or personal information via text.

Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, an Indian national on a student visa, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for conspiring to defraud at least 25 elderly Americans through phishing scams and impersonation of government officials between July and August 2024. The conspiracy stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold, with a total intended loss of at least $2.7 million, with Patel personally collecting stolen funds and distributing portions to co-conspirators. Patel was arrested in August 2024 after retrieving a box containing $130,000 from a victim's residence and pleaded guilty in March 2025.

Five Texans were sentenced to federal prison terms ranging from 9 to 40 years for their roles in a transnational fraud scheme that defrauded approximately $17 million from at least 100 victims worldwide, including vulnerable elderly individuals, between January 2017 and the sentencing date in June 2025. The scheme involved multiple fraud types including online romance scams, business email compromises, investor fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud, with proceeds laundered through bank accounts in Africa and Asia. The defendants collectively received nearly 160 years in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

Two Indian nationals on student visas, Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel and Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya, were convicted in a $2.69 million elder fraud scheme targeting at least 25 elderly U.S. citizens through phishing and impersonation of government officials; Patel received 63 months in prison and was arrested in Texas attempting to collect $130,000 in illicit proceeds. The U.S. Embassy in India issued a formal warning that visa holders engaging in illegal activities face immediate visa revocation and permanent ineligibility, highlighting a growing pattern of international student fraud exploited for elder scams.

Two Indian nationals studying in the United States were sentenced to prison for their roles in separate elder fraud schemes targeting elderly Americans. Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel received 63 months for operating as a "money mule" in a phishing scam impersonating federal officials that defrauded at least 25 elderly victims of over $2.6 million, while Moinuddin Mohammed received 8 years for a similar impersonation scheme resulting in nearly $6 million in losses. Both cases highlight growing transnational fraud operations exploiting vulnerable seniors through government impersonation and threats of legal action.

This educational article presents a quiz-format overview of common elder fraud schemes and prevention strategies, based on insights from a Texas Elder Justice Coalition summit. Key scams covered include romance/pig butchering scams, tech support fraud, impersonation scams using AI, fake lottery schemes, and caregiver theft, with recommendations including reporting to IC3.gov, using family code words, and recognizing warning signs like secretive apps and unusual bank activity.

Texas DPS issued a warning about scam calls and texts impersonating law enforcement and government agencies, falsely claiming victims have unpaid fees or active warrants and demanding payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or unsecured web portals. The agency advises that legitimate government agencies only contact citizens about fines through official written mail and recommends verifying any warrant or fee claims directly with local authorities or reporting suspected scams to law enforcement or the FCC.

The Dietert Center in Kerrville is offering free scam awareness seminars this week, including an Elder Fraud/Exploitation Seminar on June 24 presented by Texas Partners Bank covering how to identify legitimate bank alerts versus scams, and a Scam Awareness Presentation on June 26 by Kerrville Police Department addressing phishing and other criminal scamming tactics. These educational sessions aim to help community members protect themselves from fraud and exploitation.

A Houston couple, Darlington Akporugo (47) and Jasmin Sood (37), were sentenced to 188 and 121 months in prison respectively for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 25 victims nationwide of more than $3.1 million, with many victims being elderly women and widows. The pair used fake social media identities to build romantic relationships, then convinced victims to send money for fake business investments and personal emergencies, while Sood created fraudulent bank accounts under aliases to launder the funds. Both defendants were ordered to pay full restitution of $3.1 million and serve three years of supervised release.

Darlington Akporugo, 47, and Jasmin Sood, 37, from Fulshear, Texas, were sentenced to 188 and 121 months in federal prison, respectively, for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 25 elderly victims out of $3.1 million between 2015 and 2022. The couple used fake social media profiles and online dating sites to pose as widowers and military personnel, gaining victims' trust before coercing them to send money for fake business investments or personal expenses, while using the funds for luxury vehicles and mansions. Both defendants must pay full restitution and serve three years of

Elderly Americans have lost millions of dollars through Bitcoin ATM scams, with fraud losses surging from $12 million in 2020 to $114 million by 2023, with seniors accounting for two-thirds of reported losses. In response, states and cities have implemented various regulations including transaction limits, licensing requirements, and mandatory operator conversations for large transactions, while Senator Dick Durbin introduced the federal Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to cap daily spending at $2,000 and require refunds if police reports are filed within 30 days. Scammers typically impersonate government agencies, businesses, or tech support, with median losses per victim reaching $10,000.

A 28-year-old Fort Worth teacher lost his entire $32,000 life savings after scammers impersonating Chase Bank representatives convinced him via text and phone calls to transfer his funds to a "secure account." When he reported the incident to Chase Bank, the bank classified it as a scam rather than fraud and returned only $2,000, leaving him unprotected by fraud coverage policies. Leahy is now sharing his experience publicly to warn others about phishing scams, which commonly trick victims into revealing sensitive financial information through impersonation of legitimate institutions.

"Pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams—where fraudsters gradually build trust with victims before stealing their money—are rapidly growing across North Texas, with victims losing between $500,000 to $3 million each. Financial counselor Steve Benton has investigated a dozen cases involving seniors who were lured through fake social media profiles and fake crypto apps that displayed false investment gains, with global scammers stealing nearly $64 billion through these schemes in 2023 alone. The scams are difficult to prosecute because funds are moved through unregulated cryptocurrency channels, and many perpetrators operate from labor-trafficking compounds in Southeast Asia where workers are forced to target victims.

A Texas man filed a lawsuit against Citibank alleging the bank enabled a $20 million pig butchering scam in which he was defrauded between early 2023 and April 2023. The victim was contacted via Facebook by a scammer posing as a California businesswoman who convinced him to send 43 wire transfers totaling $20 million to fraudulent NFT investment accounts, with $4 million going through a Citibank account for Guju, Inc. The plaintiff argues Citibank failed to exercise due diligence, as the account's actual transaction activity (exceeding $12 million in two weeks) drastically contra

A Houston small business owner lost $20,000 from her business loan after a scammer impersonating a Prosperity Bank official gained access to her account by referencing her travel habits and requesting account verification information. The scammer transferred the funds to internal bank accounts, and while the bank recovered $12,000, only that amount has been restored so far. The incident underscores the need for small business owners to implement security measures such as strong passwords, account monitoring, and multi-factor authentication to protect against increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.

Tens of thousands of Americans have lost significant sums investing in fraudulent Chinese stocks promoted through fake financial reports, false influencer endorsements, and fabricated news stories on social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok. Notable victims include a Texas investor who lost over $40,000, a Florida teacher who lost her entire retirement savings to a nonexistent company, and an Illinois man who lost his children's college fund. To protect yourself, avoid "secret tips" promising high returns, verify information through trusted sources like the SEC and Bloomberg rather than social media, and be skeptical of hype-driven investment promotion.

Experts warn that seniors and residents of rural communities are increasingly targeted by scams, including cryptocurrency investment schemes and door-to-door contractor fraud, with investment scams averaging $4,000 in losses per victim. Red flags include unsolicited investment offers from unknown individuals and scammers exploiting loneliness through friendship-building tactics before pitching schemes. The Better Business Bureau recommends verifying the legitimacy of contacts and reaching out to the BBB if you suspect involvement in a scam.

Parents of victims from devastating Texas floods were targeted by scammers, according to officials who disclosed the scheme to CNN's Audie Cornish and Houston Chronicle Senior Columnist Lisa Falkenberg. The article describes how scammers exploited the tragedy and vulnerability of grieving families in the aftermath of the disaster.

Following catastrophic flooding in Central Texas, federal and state officials warned of a surge in disaster-related scams targeting both flood victims and charitable donors. Scammers posed as government agencies, law enforcement, insurance companies, and contractors to trick victims into paying for free federal assistance or hiring fraudulent contractors, while also creating fake social media profiles to solicit donations from well-intentioned helpers. Officials advised victims to initiate their own contact with legitimate government agencies (using .gov websites), remember that FEMA assistance is free, and donors to verify charities directly through official websites or platforms like GoFundMe that offer fraud detection and refund guarantees.

Following recent flooding, scammers created fake Venmo accounts impersonating the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department by using similar usernames with extra letters, dashes, and underscores to deceive donors. The fire department warns the public to verify donations through their official business Venmo account (cpvfdtx) or donate in person or through Peoples State Bank, and is working with Venmo to remove fraudulent accounts. FEMA-related scams have also targeted people seeking to donate relief funds and personal information.

Texas ranks second nationally for internet crime losses, with residents experiencing $1.35 billion in losses in 2024—a $328 million increase from the previous year, according to the FBI. People over 60 experienced the highest financial losses, while Hispanic and Black communities are particularly vulnerable to targeted scams such as family impersonation, phishing, and fraudulent investment schemes. The article provides guidance on recognizing scams (offers that seem too good to be true, pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, unusual payment methods) and prevention strategies (verifying identities through official channels, using strong passwords, registering with the Do Not Call Registry, and limiting personal information shared online).

In 2024, seniors aged 65 and older reported nearly $4.9 billion in losses to financial scams—a 43% increase from the previous year—with Texas seniors alone filing over 9,473 complaints averaging $489,000 in losses each. Seniors are targeted because they control significant national wealth and often struggle to keep pace with technology, making them vulnerable to romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, government impersonation, and investment fraud. Family members and caregivers can help protect seniors by monitoring account activity, maintaining open communication about financial matters, and encouraging consultation before large transactions, while laws like the 2017 Elder Abuse Prevention

Federal agencies coordinated the 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, resulting in criminal charges against 324 defendants responsible for over $14.6 billion in health care fraud, with particular concerns about fraudulent activity in the hospice industry in California, Texas, Nevada, and Arizona. The operation seized more than $245 million in assets, prevented payment on $4 billion in false claims, and included civil charges and settlements totaling $48.5 million. Vulnerable populations, including seniors relying on Medicare and Medicaid, were identified as primary targets of these criminal schemes.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into fraudulent charity scams where bad actors impersonated payment processors to collect flood relief donations intended for the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department under false pretenses. The scammers exploited the Texas Hill Country flooding tragedy to deceive donors, diverting money for personal gain while the fire department itself suffered significant losses. The Attorney General's office advises donors to verify charities through resources like CharityWatch and GuideStar, avoid wiring money or sharing personal information, and report suspected fraud to the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.

A 52-year-old Texas man, Paul Schendel, lost over $6,000 to a sophisticated bank impersonation scam involving call spoofing and an in-person card collection scheme, and died of a heart attack the following day after learning of the fraud. The scam began with a caller impersonating his bank, followed by a woman posing as Wells Fargo security who collected his debit card at his home; the bank confirmed they do not initiate contact via phone and could not reimburse him. Similar scams targeting victims through fraudulent bank employee impersonation have increased dramatically, with other victims like Scott Merovitch losing $20,000

**Summary:** McKinney police arrested three suspects—Christian Bolding, 31; Eric Ell, 23; and Prakash Krishnaraj, 58—who operated a financial exploitation scheme targeting elderly people across Texas through businesses named Precision Home Pros and Krishnaraj Construction. The suspects approached older adults in public, offered to reduce utility bills, then fraudulently used electronic signature platforms to transfer victims' signatures onto long-term loan agreements (ranging from $13,000 to $32,500) without their knowledge, leaving victims responsible for 20-year loans while the suspects collected the disbursements. Police have identified over 75 possible victims and estimate the total financial impact

Three men were arrested following a six-month investigation into a fraud scheme that defrauded over 75 elderly Texans of $1.5 million across North Texas cities including McKinney, Allen, Wylie, and Frisco. Operating under business names Precision Home Pros and Krishnaraj Construction, the suspects approached victims offering to reduce utility bills, then used forged electronic signatures to create unauthorized 20-year loans ranging from $13,000 to $32,500, funneling the funds through shell companies while victims remained liable for repayment. Prakash Krishnaraj (58), Christian Bolding (31), and Eric Ell (

A hospice agent conducted door-to-door solicitation in Texas claiming to represent Medicare and offer free hospice services, a newly identified scam targeting Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare officials warn that legitimate Medicare will never solicit services via unsolicited calls or home visits, and recipients should never share personal information with unknown callers; those suspecting fraud should contact the Medicare fraud hotline at 800-633-4227 or Senior Medicare Patrol at 877-808-2468.

Amarillo Police issued a warning about a scam targeting Amarillo National Bank members, in which scammers impersonate the bank's card center and attempt to obtain customers' full card numbers or PINs. The bank emphasized that legitimate representatives will never request this sensitive information and advised customers to hang up and call the official number (806) 378-8000 if they suspect fraudulent contact.

Crystal Allen, a 41-year-old Somerville woman, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for stealing approximately $260,000 from a 64-year-old College Station victim by gaining her trust through helping with errands, then accessing her financial accounts and transferring funds through various digital platforms between October 2020 and April 2024. The victim's savings were depleted from over $260,000 to less than $4,000, with the scheme discovered when a family member noticed suspicious withdrawals during the victim's hospitalization in September 2021. Allen was ordered to pay full restitution of $260,000 and had prior convictions for burglary and additional

Crystal Allen was sentenced to 20 years in prison for defrauding a 64-year-old College Station woman of nearly $260,000 over approximately one year. Allen gained the victim's trust by offering help with errands and chores, then used her access to steal the victim's financial information, open fraudulent accounts, and transfer funds to herself, reducing the victim's three bank accounts from over $260,000 to less than $4,000. As part of her sentence, Allen was ordered to pay $260,000 in restitution to the victim.

Crystal Allen was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing $260,000 from a 64-year-old College Station resident through manipulation and fraudulent access to bank accounts. Allen gained the victim's trust by befriending her and spending time with her before obtaining personal information to access three bank accounts. Experts emphasize that seniors are particularly vulnerable to such scams due to their trusting nature and recommend being cautious with personal information and validating stories before sharing sensitive details.

Collin County, Texas is experiencing a surge in fake jury duty scams where criminals contact residents by phone or mail, threatening arrest and demanding payment to avoid legal consequences. Sheriff Jim Skinner's newly formed cyber crimes unit has executed 800 search warrants and recovered $1.5 million in recent months, with scammers increasingly using cryptocurrency ATMs to collect payments and targeting vulnerable elderly residents. The sheriff's office is launching a public awareness campaign urging residents to recognize that law enforcement will never demand money by phone and encouraging convenience store owners to monitor suspicious transactions.

**Summary:** AI-powered tools have enabled scammers to automate and personalize attacks at scale, making fraudulent calls, emails, and text messages more convincing and widespread than ever. AI researcher Thomas Fellows recommends establishing safety phrases and code words with family members to verify identity and prevent impersonation scams, and advises victims to contact police rather than attempting to handle scams independently.

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Three Texas men were arrested for defrauding approximately 75 elderly victims of $1.5 million through a loan scheme in which they posed as business representatives offering to reduce utility bills, then fraudulently applied seniors' electronic signatures to 20-year loans ($13,000-$32,500 per victim) without consent. The article notes that elder fraud has become increasingly sophisticated, with 2023 losses exceeding $3.4 billion nationally among seniors aged 60+, now involving investment schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, and AI-enhanced techniques like voice cloning and deepfakes.

Kirbyjon Caldwell, a prominent Texas pastor and former spiritual adviser to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, returned to preaching at Windsor Village Church nearly a year after his release from prison for a $3.6 million fraud conviction. Caldwell had served part of a six-year sentence for his involvement in a scheme with investment adviser Gregory Alan Smith to defraud 29 investors through the sale of worthless historical Chinese bonds between 2013 and 2014. He has completed full restitution to all victims and was removed as an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church as part of disciplinary measures.

A Texas woman, Audrey Michelle Townsend, pleaded guilty to scamming a Buford senior couple, Gloria and Gary Moss, out of $49,000 through an elaborate phishing scheme in February 2024. Townsend received a 20-year sentence (5 years in prison, remainder on probation) after being convicted of theft over $25,000 and four counts of elder abuse and exploitation; she tricked the couple into providing banking information via a fake Chase Bank text message. Chase Bank eventually returned the full amount to the couple in July 2024 after initial refusal and media attention.

Audrey Michelle Townsend, 26, from Texas, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for defrauding a Buford couple, Gloria and Gary Moss, out of $49,000 in February 2024 through a phishing scheme where she posed as Chase Bank via text message to trick them into authorizing fraudulent transfers. Townsend pleaded guilty to theft over $25,000 and four counts of elder abuse and exploitation; the Mosses' full amount was recovered by Chase Bank in July 2024 following media coverage and police investigation. The District Attorney's Office advised the public to hang up and call their bank directly when receiving unsolic

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Christine Joan Echohawk, 54, of Pawnee, pleaded guilty to five felony charges 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. One victim sold her house to send $600,000 to the scammer; Echohawk received the funds through various accounts, converted them to cryptocurrency, and sent payments to an unidentified accomplice using the alias "Maurice Dinero." She was sentenced to 62 years in prison (8 years to serve, 54 suspended) and ordered to pay $621,750 in

Scammers impersonate legitimate charities and create fake donation sites following natural disasters like hurricanes, exploiting people's desire to help during high-emotion situations. In 2024, disaster relief scams cost Americans $3 billion overall, with the FBI receiving over 4,500 complaints totaling $96 million in losses. People should watch for red flags including unexpected contact combined with pressure to act quickly or requests for unusual payment methods, and should verify organizations through trusted sources before donating.