Search
Explore the Archive
Search across 26,669 articles about elder fraud. Filter by fraud type, payment mechanism, or keywords.
705 results
for "Florida"
floridabar.org
Southwest Florida lawmakers are sponsoring legislation that would allow vulnerable seniors or their representatives to obtain court injunctions against unknown scammers without requiring an attorney or filing fees, enabling them to freeze bank transactions initiated through untraceable technology like WhatsApp or dating apps. The proposed bill builds on Florida's 2018 Exploitation Injunction law by using substitute service methods to target unidentifiable scammers, addressing the challenge that victims under a scammer's influence may authorize transfers faster than emergency guardianship or other legal interventions can be obtained.
news4jax.com
A 2024 study by NumberBarn found that Americans lost over $1 billion to robocalls and scam texts, with Jacksonville ranking 4th nationally for complaints (6,305 cases) and Florida 12th overall (160,000 cases). Seniors aged 60 and older were disproportionately affected, losing $405 million to phone scams and $130 million to text scams. Experts recommend avoiding unsolicited calls and texts requesting sensitive information, staying silent if answering suspicious calls, and reporting incidents to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
lakeonews.com
Scams targeting adults aged 60 and older caused over $3.4 billion in losses during 2023, with fraud incidents typically increasing during the holiday season when older adults engage in more online shopping and charitable giving. The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida launched the "Home for the Holidays" campaign to educate seniors, caregivers, and families about common scams and prevention strategies, particularly targeting isolated or lonely seniors who face heightened vulnerability.
aol.com
A Florida real estate agent, Jason Valiant, was arrested for allegedly defrauding an elderly Ormond Beach couple of $1.6 million in properties and depleted bank accounts by forging power of attorney and healthcare surrogate documents while they were hospitalized. Valiant used the fraudulent authority to transfer the couple's home and two other properties to himself, drain their accounts, and use their credit cards for personal expenses; authorities also allege he signed a Do Not Resuscitate order for one victim, resulting in their removal from life support. Valiant faces charges including organized scheme to defraud, exploitation of an elderly adult, and identity theft.
wsbtv.com
**Summary:**
Xiao Kun Cheung, a 58-year-old deported Chinese national, was indicted in September for his role in a multi-state elder fraud conspiracy targeting seniors in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. The scheme involved fraudsters contacting elderly victims via phone or pop-up messages claiming their accounts were compromised, then convincing them to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars for "safekeeping"; Cheung was arrested in March attempting to collect $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia. According to the FBI, seniors lost over $3.5 billion to fraud in 2023, with Georgia victims alone losing
yahoo.com
A 58-year-old man, Xiao Kun Cheung, was indicted for his role in a multi-state scheme that defrauded elderly victims out of more than $1 million, targeting seniors in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee through phone calls and pop-up messages falsely claiming their computers or financial accounts were compromised. Cheung convinced victims to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars for "safekeeping," and was arrested in March attempting to collect $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia. He faces up to 20 years in prison and financial penalties upon conviction, reflecting a broader crisis where seniors lost over $3
foxnews.com
Tech support scammers are targeting users with unsolicited calls and pop-up warnings claiming their computers have been hacked, exploiting fears by impersonating legitimate companies like Microsoft and demanding immediate payment via non-reversible methods. A Florida resident named Tammy contacted authorities after receiving a fraudulent Microsoft call warning her not to touch her computer. To protect yourself, immediately disengage from suspicious contacts, disconnect from the internet, avoid granting remote access, run antivirus scans, change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity.
wtoc.com
Xiao Kun Cheung, a 58-year-old Chinese national, was indicted for his role in a multi-state elder fraud conspiracy that defrauded senior citizens (up to age 92) of over $1 million across Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. The scheme involved contacting victims by phone or pop-up messages claiming their computers or accounts were compromised, then convincing them to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars; Cheung was arrested in March while attempting to collect approximately $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia. He faces charges including wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, carrying up to 20 years in federal
justice.gov
Xiao Kun Cheung, 58, a Chinese national, was indicted for his role in a multi-state elder fraud conspiracy that targeted seniors up to age 92 across Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee, swindling over $1 million through phone calls and pop-up messages falsely claiming compromised accounts, then persuading victims to withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, or buy gold bars. Cheung was arrested in March 2024 while attempting to collect approximately $132,000 in gold bars from a victim in Pooler, Georgia, and faces charges including wire fraud and extortion with potential penalties up to 20 years in prison. The case
13wmaz.com
A Chinese national, Xiao Kun Cheung, was arrested and charged for his role in a scam that defrauded elderly people across the U.S. of $1.2 million through fake pop-ups and phone calls claiming computer or financial account compromises. Cheung and his co-conspirators convinced victims to withdraw money to purchase gift cards and gold bars, which were then collected by conspirators posing as government agents; victims in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee were affected. Cheung faces up to 20 years in prison and was charged with wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and drug possession charges.
krdo.com
A Florida couple, Phil and Nicole Scolaro, defrauded two elderly Colorado women out of over $4 million over three years by claiming they were partial owners of an African gold mine and persuading the victims to send money for supposed mine ownership stakes. The couple was arrested in late October and faces five felony charges including fraud and theft, with bail set at $1 million combined. The article also highlights that seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams due to being more trusting and having accumulated savings, and emphasizes the importance of reporting fraud quickly to law enforcement and financial institutions.
themirror.com
Phil and Nicole Scolaro were arrested in Florida and charged with five felonies for defrauding two elderly Colorado women of over $4 million through a fake African goldmine investment scheme spanning three years. A Douglas County Sheriff's Senior Resource Deputy emphasized that seniors are frequent targets due to greater trust, lower tech-savvy, and accumulated wealth, and recommended using the "SCAM" and "STOP" acronyms to identify red flags, while encouraging families to establish trust so victims will report incidents to authorities and banks promptly.
9news.com
A Florida couple, Phil and Nicole Scolaro, were indicted on five felony charges including fraud and theft after deceiving two elderly Colorado women into sending over $4 million by posing as owners of a working gold mine in Africa and promising them partial ownership. Law enforcement emphasized that seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams due to their trusting nature, accumulated savings, and perceived lower tech-savviness, and recommended victims report fraud quickly to authorities and banks to prevent further financial loss.
themirror.com
A 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Moynihan Jr., allegedly impersonated tech billionaire Elon Musk on Facebook beginning in 2023 and defrauded a 74-year-old Texas woman of approximately $600,000 by convincing her that investing in Musk's business ventures would yield returns up to $55 million. The victim transferred funds to accounts actually owned by Moynihan and his businesses, and police arrested him on grand theft charges in November 2023, though none of the victim's money has been recovered. The case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals to investment scams involving celebrity impersonation on social media.
en.cibercuba.com
A 56-year-old Florida man was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook to defraud a 74-year-old Texas woman of approximately $600,000 through a fake investment scheme promising returns of $55 million on a $500,000 investment. The perpetrator, Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., built trust over months by synchronizing messages with public events and news, and used his painting company as a front to conceal the stolen funds. He was arrested in November by the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit and faces charges of grand theft and identity theft.
brobible.com
A 56-year-old Florida man was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of approximately $600,000 by posing as the billionaire and promising massive returns on fake investments. Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr. befriended the victim over several months, using real posts from Musk's social media accounts to appear authentic, and directed the money to bank accounts he controlled. The case highlights a broader epidemic of celebrity impersonation scams targeting elderly victims across the United States.
nationalpost.com
A 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., was arrested and charged with grand theft for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook to scam a 74-year-old Texas woman out of $250,000 (with her husband reporting the actual total may reach $600,000) by convincing her to invest in fake business opportunities. Moynihan established rapport with the victim over several months in 2023 by referencing real Musk social media posts, eventually persuading her that she had legitimately invested with the tech billionaire; police also discovered evidence he used false identities of actors Johnny Depp and Lionel Richie, an
marca.com
In Florida, a 56-year-old man named Jeffrey Moynihan Jr. was arrested for posing as billionaire Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of approximately $600,000 between 2023 and April 2024. Moynihan befriended the victim, convinced her to "invest" in fake companies with promised returns up to $55 million, and directed her to send funds to accounts linked to his painting businesses. He now faces charges including grand theft, identity theft, wire fraud, and money laundering, with authorities still investigating the full extent of the scheme.
mysuncoast.com
A 56-year-old man in Bradenton, Florida was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of over $600,000 after convincing her to invest in fake business opportunities with promised returns of $55 million. Elder fraud is rising across Florida's Suncoast region through various scams including romance and phishing schemes, with authorities recommending residents pause to verify requests, question urgency, and recognize too-good-to-be-true offers.
ktnv.com
A Las Vegas woman was targeted by scammers impersonating a debt collector who claimed she owed $960.10 for lab tests from National Diagnostic Imaging, threatening legal action to pressure payment. The victim initially resisted but paid $100 out of fear before discovering red flags: the company operates only via teleradiology with no physical offices, the check address was in Florida (not Ohio where the company is based), and the phone number didn't match. The article advises verifying debts directly with medical providers, demanding written confirmation from collectors, and placing fraud alerts with credit reporting agencies to protect against similar scams.
businessinsider.com
A 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Moynihan Jr., was arrested for defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of approximately $250,000–$600,000 through a fake Facebook account impersonating Elon Musk that promised high investment returns. The victim befriended the fake account in 2023 and sent money over several months, which went directly into Moynihan's personal bank accounts and his painting business rather than generating the promised $55 million return. This case highlights a broader pattern in which scammers frequently exploit Musk's identity through various schemes, including deepfake videos promoting fraudulent crypto investments.
abc3340.com
A 56-year-old Florida business owner was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of at least $250,000 over several months in 2023. The victim was lured into investing in fake business opportunities and promised a $55 million return, with funds transferred to bank accounts belonging to the suspect and his painting business. The victim's husband reported she may have sent approximately $600,000 total to the scammer.
news.yahoo.com
A 56-year-old Florida man named Jeffrey Moynihan, Jr. was arrested for grand theft after scamming a 74-year-old Texas woman out of approximately $250,000 to $600,000 using a fake Facebook account impersonating Elon Musk. The victim befriended the fraudulent account in 2023 and was promised a $55 million investment return, but the funds were deposited into Moynihan's personal accounts and his painting business instead. This incident reflects a broader pattern of identity theft schemes exploiting Musk's name, including deepfake cryptocurrency scams that have defrauded victims worldwide of substantial sums.
ntd.com
A 56-year-old Bradenton, Florida man was arrested for defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of at least $250,000 (possibly up to $600,000) by posing as Elon Musk on Facebook and promising a $55 million return on fake business investments. The article also highlights a related case where a 26-year-old Minnesota man was arrested for stealing over $100,000 from a 77-year-old widower through an online romance scam, reflecting a broader trend in which scammers stole at least $3.4 billion from Americans aged 60 and older in 2023.
kvue.com
A 56-year-old Florida man was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk online and defrauding a 74-year-old North Texas woman of approximately $600,000 over several months in 2023. Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr. promised the victim a $55 million return on her investment in fake Musk businesses and transferred at least $250,000 to accounts he controlled. The Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit made the arrest, noting that this case is part of a broader pattern of elder fraud involving nearly $3 million in losses to victims over 60 this year.
kfvs12.com
A 56-year-old Florida man was arrested for posing as Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of $600,000 after months of messages in which he promised her $55 million in investment returns. The scammer exploited the victim's financial fears to convince her to send money, and the arrest is part of a broader pattern of elder fraud cases totaling nearly $3 million in losses investigated by Bradenton police this year alone.
kalb.com
A 56-year-old Florida man was arrested for grand theft after impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of $600,000 over several months. The scammer gained her trust through social media friendship and convinced her to invest money in fake business opportunities, promising returns of $55 million. The Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit has investigated nearly $3 million in fraud losses so far that year.
wesh.com
A 56-year-old Florida man was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and scamming a 74-year-old Texas woman out of at least $250,000 over several months in 2023, though her husband reports she may have transferred approximately $600,000 total to the fake account. The perpetrator used the false identity to convince the victim to invest in his businesses with promises of a $55 million return and funneled the money through bank accounts associated with his painting and pressure washing company. This case is part of a broader fraud trend in the region, with fraud cases targeting victims over 60 resulting in nearly $3 million in losses
scrippsnews.com
A 56-year-old Florida man, Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook to defraud a 74-year-old Texas woman out of approximately $250,000 to $600,000 through a fake investment scheme promising to turn $500,000 into $55 million. The victim was convinced by the perpetrator's use of Musk's real profile photos and references to his public activities over several months of conversation in 2023, though her husband eventually reported the fraud after their bank flagged the suspicious withdrawals. Investigators believe additional suspects are involved and note this type of celebrity impersonation scam
wfaa.com
A 56-year-old Florida man was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk online and defrauding a 74-year-old North Texas woman of approximately $600,000 between 2023 and mid-2024. Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr. befriended the victim under the guise of Musk, encouraging her to invest in his businesses with promises of a $55 million return, with financial records confirming at least $250,000 in confirmed transfers to accounts he controlled. The case was investigated by both Frisco police and the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit, which reported handling nearly $3 million in fraud losses involving victims
wsaz.com
A 56-year-old Florida man was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of $600,000 by convincing her to invest in his purported businesses with promised returns of $55 million. The scam developed over several months of online messaging that exploited the victim's financial fears. This case is part of a broader pattern, with Bradenton Police's Elder Fraud Unit investigating nearly $3 million in elder fraud losses in 2024 alone.
wtsp.com
A 56-year-old Bradenton, Florida man was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of at least $250,000 (with the victim's husband reporting losses up to $600,000) between 2023 and 2024. Jeffrey Moynihan, Jr. befriended the victim online and convinced her to invest in fake business opportunities promising a $55 million return, transferring the funds to accounts associated with his painting and pressure washing business. Bradenton police's elder fraud unit reports nearly $3 million in fraud losses among victims over 60 in 2024
nbc-2.com
A 56-year-old Florida business owner was arrested for defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of $250,000 by impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and convincing her to invest in his businesses with promises of a $55 million return. The victim may have actually lost as much as $600,000, and investigators suspect additional victims exist. The case is part of a broader pattern, with Florida's Elder Fraud Unit handling nearly $3 million in losses from seniors in 2024 alone.
fox26houston.com
A 56-year-old man in Florida was arrested for impersonating Elon Musk on Facebook and defrauding a 74-year-old Texas woman of up to $600,000 over several months starting in 2023. Jeffrey Moynihan, Jr. posed as Musk, built a daily friendship with the victim, and convinced her to invest in fake business ventures by promising a $55 million return, with at least $250,000 confirmed transferred to accounts he controlled. Moynihan claimed his girlfriend was the mastermind behind the scheme.
cw34.com
A 77-year-old Stuart, Florida retiree nearly lost $10,000 in a phone scam where a caller impersonating a customer service representative instructed him to withdraw cash and mail it via UPS; his caregiver alerted police who intercepted the package in Louisville, Kentucky, and recovered all the money. A bank security expert emphasized that tellers should question elderly customers about large cash withdrawals and that banks should implement verification procedures with family members before releasing substantial sums. The victim warns other seniors to remain vigilant, and recommends setting up checks and balances with banks to prevent similar fraud.
cbs12.com
Despite government efforts to reduce robocalls, phone calls remain scammers' preferred method for targeting victims, with older adults being disproportionately targeted because "criminals go where the money is," according to AARP's Director of Fraud Victim Support. In one Florida case, an elderly man with dementia lost $10,000 after receiving a scam call with an 833-area code and withdrawing cash to mail to scammers in New Jersey—though this victim was fortunate when law enforcement recovered the money before delivery, a rare outcome. Experts recommend not answering calls from unknown numbers, silencing unknown callers on smartphones, and blocking suspicious area codes commonly used by scamm
aol.com
A 26-year-old Minnesota man, Benjamin Yakah, was arrested and charged with grand theft after stealing over $100,000 from a 77-year-old Bradenton widower through an eight-month romance scam on Facebook. The scammer posed as a woman named "Julia" from the United Kingdom, using stolen photos and claiming to need money to pay debts before relocating to Florida, while all funds were directed to Yakah's bank account in Minneapolis. The investigation, initiated by the victim's family in June 2024, revealed additional victims in other states, and Yakah is being extradited to Manatee County to face charges.
mysuncoast.com
A 77-year-old widower from Bradenton, Florida lost over $100,000 in a romance scam after meeting someone claiming to be "Julia" on Facebook Messenger who posed as a woman from the United Kingdom seeking to relocate to America. Benjamin Yakah from Minnesota was arrested after investigation revealed he operated the scam, using stolen photos and convincing the victim to send cash and checks to pay off fabricated debts; evidence suggests there are additional victims. Yakah is awaiting extradition to Manatee County as the investigation continues.
fox13news.com
A 77-year-old widower in Bradenton, Florida lost $100,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a British woman named "Julia" on Facebook and claimed she needed money to pay off a debt before relocating to be with him. The investigation, launched in June 2024 by the victim's children, revealed that suspect Benjamin Yakah used stolen photos from a West Virginia woman's Facebook account and had the victim send cash and checks to accounts in Minneapolis over an eight-month period. Yakah was arrested in Minnesota and is awaiting extradition to Manatee County; police suspect he scammed multiple victims across different states.
patch.com
A 26-year-old Minnesota man, Benjamin Yakah, was arrested and faces grand theft charges after defrauding a 77-year-old Bradenton widower of over $100,000 in an eight-month internet romance scam. The victim was deceived by a fake Facebook profile using stolen photos of a West Virginia woman, who posed as "Julia" and convinced him to send cash and checks to Minnesota accounts under the pretense of relocating to Florida to be with him. The victim's children alerted authorities in June, leading to a five-month investigation and Yakah's arrest; evidence suggests he victimized additional people in other states.
wtsp.com
A 26-year-old man named Benjamin Yakah was arrested in Minnesota for operating an internet romance scam in which he posed as a woman named "Julia" on Facebook and defrauded a 77-year-old widower in Bradenton, Florida of over $100,000 across eight months. Yakah used stolen photos of a West Virginia woman without her knowledge and convinced the victim that he needed money to pay off a debt before relocating from the United Kingdom to Florida to start a relationship. The victim's children reported the scam to the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit in June, leading investigators to trace the fraudulent bank account to Yakah, and further investigation reveale
wrtv.com
An 82-year-old Florida woman lost over $40,000 in a lottery scam where a caller claiming to represent Mega Millions told her she had won $8 million and instructed her to send cash to an Indianapolis address to cover taxes. The scammer used fake check deposits and promises of prize money to convince the victim to wire multiple shipments of cash via UPS, though authorities have not recovered the funds or identified the actual perpetrator. This case exemplifies the rising tide of elder fraud, with the FBI reporting $3.4 billion in losses to people age 60 and older in 2023—an 11 percent increase from the previous year.
observernews.net
The Florida Securities Dealers and Advisors Association will host a free panel discussion on November 8 in Sun City Center addressing fraud targeting veterans and their families, featuring experts from law enforcement, financial regulatory authorities, and consumer protection services. According to the Federal Trade Commission, veterans lost an estimated $292 million to fraud in 2022, with common schemes including identity theft, phishing scams, romance scams, and investment fraud, with benefits recipients being particularly vulnerable targets.
dhs.gov
Two men, Roberto Munoz (29) of Florida and Jason Rhodes (34) of New York, were charged federally in November 2024 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for operating as couriers in grandparent scams targeting elderly victims across multiple states. Operating in March 2024, Munoz and Rhodes collected approximately $230,000 from victims in over a dozen communities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by posing as family members, attorneys, or law enforcement and directing seniors to pay fake bail or legal fees; they were arrested after police set up surveillance at a victim's home where one grandparent couple had already paid $18,000.
yahoo.com
Two men from New York and Florida were arrested in March for their roles as couriers in grandparent scams targeting seniors across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and multiple other states. In early March, Roberto Munoz and Jason Rhodes allegedly collected approximately $230,000 from victims in over a dozen communities before police arrested them during a surveillance operation at a victim's home in Warwick, Rhode Island. The scams involved fraudsters posing as family members, attorneys, or law enforcement to convince elderly victims to send cash via couriers, with evidence suggesting the scheme targeted victims across at least nine additional states.
boston25news.com
Two men from New York and Florida were arrested in March for serving as couriers in grandparent scams targeting seniors across multiple states, collecting approximately $230,000 from victims in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Iowa, and beyond. Roberto Munoz and Jason Rhodes allegedly received victim names and addresses from scam organizers and traveled to collect bail payments that victims believed were needed for arrested grandchildren, with one victim pair paying $18,000 before recognizing the scheme. Both men were released on unsecured bond with GPS monitoring while the investigation continues, with authorities believing numerous additional families across Rhode Island and Massachusetts were victimized.
weirtondailytimes.com
Utility scams targeting seniors use threatening calls about immediate service shutoffs to extort money through fear and intimidation. The article advises recipients to hang up immediately, call their utility using the legitimate number on their bill, and report the scam to both the utility company and the FTC, emphasizing that real utilities do not operate this way and that money sent to scammers is nearly impossible to recover. According to ABC News and FBI data, people over 65 lost nearly $1 billion to scams in 2020, with seniors representing most of the 23,000 victims, particularly in California, Florida, and Texas.
justice.gov
Viraj Patel, a money mule operating in Florida, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for laundering at least $216,000 in proceeds from government-imposter fraud schemes targeting senior citizens. Patel picked up cash and gold from victims who had been deceived by India-based conspirators into believing their identities were compromised, including one victim who was tricked into surrendering $71,000 and later $50,000 in a single scheme. The court ordered Patel to forfeit $145,000 in traceable fraud proceeds.
wvnews.com
This educational piece warns seniors about utility scams, where fraudsters impersonate utility companies and demand immediate payment under threat of service cutoff. The article advises recipients to hang up immediately, call their utility using the legitimate number on their bill, and report the scam to both the utility and the Federal Trade Commission. It notes that people over 65 lost nearly $1 billion to scams in 2020, with utility scams particularly prevalent in California, Florida, and Texas, making West Virginia seniors especially vulnerable given the state's high elderly population.
justice.gov
Everette Jhamal Thibou, 32, of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced to 168 months in prison as the sixth defendant in an international fraud scheme that defrauded 50 elderly victims of $11 million across West Michigan and the country. The scam used fake virus warnings and impersonations of tech companies and federal agents to trick victims into sending cash, wire transfers, and gift cards through various methods. Thibou and five other U.S.-based defendants collected fraud proceeds on behalf of scammers located in India, with a seventh defendant still at large.