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Following the Alaska West Coast Storms, FEMA and state officials are warning disaster survivors that scammers are impersonating government officials, aid workers, and insurance employees to exploit people during recovery. To protect yourself, verify any FEMA contact by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-866-342-1699, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement or the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 1-866-720-5721 or [email protected].

Scammers posing as government officials and law enforcement are targeting Alaskans with calls demanding payment for missed jury duty or arrest warrants, causing losses exceeding $1.3 million in 2024—more than five times the previous year. To protect yourself, never provide personal information or make payments to callers claiming to be officials, and report suspicious calls immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and your bank, as early reporting may allow funds to be recovered. The scammers use caller ID spoofing, personalized details, and intimidation tactics to appear legitimate, so staying calm and verifying through official channels is crucial.

# Romance Scam Summary Nearly 59,000 Americans lost $697.3 million to romance scams in 2024, with scammers posing as potential partners on dating apps to extract money from victims. Arizona, Alaska, and Wyoming reported the highest rates of romance scams per capita, with Arizona seeing particularly steep increases in both reports and financial losses. To protect yourself, verify matches through video calls before sharing personal or financial information, research potential matches on social media, and be suspicious of anyone who quickly professes feelings or asks for money.

The Better Business Bureau's 2024 Scam Tracker Risk Report identifies investment and cryptocurrency scams as the riskiest scams in North America, with a median loss of approximately $5,000 per person and often initiated through social media outreach. In Alaska alone, six investment scam reports totaled losses exceeding $74,457 in 2024. The report emphasizes that working with legitimate, fee-based financial advisors—who use standard stock markets, make no guaranteed returns, and wait for clients to approach them—significantly reduces fraud risk and improves wealth-building outcomes compared to falling for unsolicited investment opportunities.

AARP fraud experts warn that scammers in Anchorage are placing fake QR codes over legitimate ones in parking lots to direct users to fraudulent websites and steal personal financial information. To avoid falling victim, consumers should avoid scanning codes that appear tampered with, verify URLs match the business, never scan codes from unsolicited texts or emails, and resist rushing before entering sensitive data. Anyone who suspects they've been scammed should contact their bank immediately and report the incident to the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline.

The FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report documented 6,770 online fraud complaints in Alaska totaling over $26 million in losses, with residents over 60 experiencing the highest financial impact, particularly from cryptocurrency scams comprising 45% of losses. Investment fraud, business email compromise, and tech support fraud were the top scam types in the state, with the FBI urging residents to report incidents to their financial institutions and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

In December 2024, Oklahoma officials charged Christine Joan Echohawk with orchestrating romance scams that defrauded four elderly women (ages 64-79) of $1.5 million between September and December 2024. Echohawk used fake male personas including "Jason Morris," "Edward Lotts," and "Glenn Goadard" to convince victims to send money under false pretenses such as paying off debts or investing in oil rigs, then laundered the funds through bank accounts and cryptocurrency. A bank's suspicious hold on a $120,000 transfer led to the investigation, and Echohawk was charged with unlawful use of criminal proceeds and computer

In December 2024, Oklahoma officials charged Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, with operating a romance scam ring that defrauded four elderly women (ages 64-79) out of $1.5 million between September and December 2024. Echohawk used fake male identities (Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, Glenn Goadard) to convince victims she was in romantic relationships with them, then manipulated them into sending cash, checks, wire transfers, and gift cards under false pretenses (fake oil rigs, business investments, debt payoffs). The funds were deposited into accounts Echohawk controlled and converted into cryptocurrency, with one

Christine Joan Echohawk of Oklahoma orchestrated multiple online romance scams targeting four elderly women (ages 64-79) from September to December, defrauding them of $1.5 million total using fake male personas like "Jason Morris," "Edward Lotts," and "Glenn Goadard" with elaborate stories requiring urgent cash payments. One victim sold her paid-off home to send over $600,000 after being promised debt relief, while another sent $250,000 for a supposed financial portfolio from Syria; Echohawk deposited all funds into a bank account under her name and converted the money into cryptocurrency for money laundering. The scam was uncovered when a

Native and Indigenous elders in the U.S. face disproportionate risks of financial fraud and scams, with one documented case involving a tribal member losing $15,000 to a sweetheart scam. According to federal data, Alaska Native and Indigenous individuals are more likely to be victims of scams and less likely to report them than other groups, with approximately one million Indigenous and Alaska Native people over 65 across 574 federally recognized tribes. Community organizations are working to address this vulnerability by providing support without stigma, while recognizing that factors like regular tribal payments, Social Security, and cultural values around resource-sharing make older Indigenous people particularly attractive targets for financial exploitation.

The U.S. Secret Service warned Alaska consumers about an ongoing skimming scam affecting credit, debit, and SNAP benefit cards, particularly targeting Mat-Su area grocery shoppers whose electronic benefit accounts were drained. During an August outreach operation across Alaska, authorities inspected over 1,750 point-of-sale terminals and recovered two skimming devices from gas pumps and ATMs, with sophisticated Eastern European criminal groups believed responsible for most incidents. The Secret Service recommends using ATMs inside financial institutions with security cameras, checking for tampering signs, and shielding PIN entry, while victims should report fraud immediately to local law enforcement and contact the Alaska Department of Health for SNAP card fraud reimb

Tolulope Samuel Bodunde, a 33-year-old Nigerian citizen, was sentenced to two years in prison for participating in a multi-country business email compromise scheme that defrauded multiple victims including Connecticut, Colorado, Alaska, and New York-based companies. Bodunde specifically exploited elderly women through romance scams to serve as unwitting money mules and was ordered to pay $494,939 in restitution to three victims. The criminal network, led by co-conspirator Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, operated over several years by impersonating legitimate entities in electronic communications to trick victims into transferring money to accounts controlled by the conspirators.

This article discusses online dating safety in Illinois, ranking the state 30th for safety among U.S. states, primarily due to high STD rates of 839.2 per 100,000 people annually. The piece mentions various online dating risks including romance scams, catfishing, and dishonest actors, while noting that Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire are the safest states for online dating, whereas Nevada, Alaska, and Georgia pose the greatest risks.

A study ranking online dating safety across U.S. states identified Nevada, Alaska, Georgia, Florida, and Arizona as the five most dangerous states, based on rates of romance scams, identity theft, fraud, violent crime, and encounters with registered sex offenders. Georgia and Florida ranked among the least safe due to particularly high identity theft and fraud rates, while Arizona led the nation in romance scams specifically. The research demonstrates that geographic location significantly influences online dating risks for users.

A study by PrivacyJournal.net ranked Nevada as the most dangerous state for online dating based on reported romance scams, fraud, identity theft, and violent crime per 100,000 residents. Nevada ranked second nationally for romance scam reports and third for fraud reports, making it a higher-risk state for online daters seeking to avoid financial and personal victimization. The analysis identified Vermont as the safest state for online dating, while other risky states included Alaska, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, and South Carolina.

Samantha Norman, a nurse in Palmer, Alaska, lost $3,000 in a "Jury Duty Scam" after a caller impersonating a police officer convinced her she had missed jury duty and had a warrant for her arrest. The scammer used social engineering tactics—claiming to be sympathetic, citing COVID protocols, and instructing her to pay bail via a Coinstar machine—to manipulate her into sending money. This nationwide scheme has been targeting Alaskans for years, with Palmer Police reporting multiple victims on the same day Norman was scammed.

Arkansas ranks #10 among the most dangerous states for online dating, according to a study by PrivacyJournal.net that analyzed FBI and Federal Trade Commission data on romance scams, identity theft, fraud, sex offenders, and other risk factors per 100,000 residents. Arkansas reported 4.6 romance scams per 100,000 people, 133 identity theft cases, 200 fraud cases, 606 registered sex offenders, and 926 reported STDs, with Nevada and Alaska ranking as the most dangerous states overall.

A Privacy Journal study analyzing FBI, FTC, CDC, and Census Bureau data ranked U.S. states by online dating safety, identifying Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire as safest and Nevada, Alaska, and Georgia as most dangerous based on rates of violence, STIs, romance scams, identity theft, and registered sex offenders per 100,000 people. The research highlights that romance scams pose significant fraud risks to online daters, with victims targeted for cash or personal information used for identity theft, and recommends safety precautions including refusing money requests, meeting in public places, and avoiding sharing private information with unvetted contacts.

A Privacy Journal study analyzing FBI, FTC, and CDC data ranked states by online dating safety risks, including romance scams, identity theft, STIs, violent crime, and registered sex offenders per 100,000 people. South Carolina ranked among the 10 most dangerous states for online dating, alongside Nevada, Alaska, Georgia, and Florida, while Vermont and Maine were identified as safest. The study notes that while dating apps facilitate connections (with 1 in 4 couples meeting online), users should avoid money requests, meet in public locations, and refrain from sharing personal information until after meeting someone in person.

A Privacy Journal study analyzing FBI, CDC, FTC, and Internet Crime Complaint Center data ranked U.S. states by danger levels for online dating users, identifying Nevada, Alaska, Georgia, Florida, and Arizona as the five most risky states. The analysis considered romance scams, identity theft, fraud, violent crime, STD rates, and registered sex offender concentrations, with Arizona having the highest romance scam rate (9.2 per 100,000), Nevada the second-highest (8.1 per 100,000), and Georgia leading in identity theft and fraud victimization rates. The findings highlight that geographic location can predict vulnerability to various threats when using dating apps.

Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Bureau of Investigations warned residents of two active scams operating statewide: a "Cash for Gold" scheme where perpetrators offer to exchange counterfeit jewelry for cash under the pretense of replacing lost IDs or fixing vehicles, and a "Violin" scam (details not fully specified in excerpt). The Cash for Gold scam has resulted in several confrontational and physical incidents with victims.

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.

Alaska's internet fraud losses nearly doubled from $16.5 million in 2022 to $31.5 million in 2023—a 91% increase that far outpaced the national 21% rise—with the FBI noting actual losses are likely underreported. While older adults (60+) represented only about 13% of Alaska's 2,338 fraud victims that year, they accounted for over $8.7 million in losses (more than 25% of the total), with the top fraud types being compromised business emails, investment scams, and romance scams. The FBI emphasizes prevention through strong passwords, caution with virtual relationships and suspicious links,

Alaska experienced a 91% surge in internet scam losses from 2022 to 2023, jumping from $16.5 million to $31.5 million—nearly double the national average increase of 21%—with seniors over 60 representing about 300 victims but accounting for over $8.7 million (more than a quarter of total losses). The FBI identified the three main fraud types affecting Alaskans as compromised business emails, investment fraud, and romance scams, while emphasizing that actual losses are likely underreported. Authorities stress prevention through strong passwords, anti-virus software, caution with virtual relationships, and reporting incidents to the FBI's Internet Crime

In February 2024, an Alaska Superior Court judge ordered a retrial in a 2022 felony fraud case against 66-year-old Vickie Moyle and her 47-year-old daughter Annie Williams, who were convicted of defrauding elderly Mae Jensen out of her home through a bad real estate deal in 2019. The retrial was granted because the court improperly allowed character testimony about the defendants' truthfulness despite the women never testifying, violating evidence rules. The original conviction involved charges of scheme to defraud and theft valued at $10,000 and $25,000 respectively, with the defendants accused of exploiting Jensen's lack of knowledge about unc

Two phone scams are circulating in Fairbanks, Alaska: a Medicare scam where callers impersonate Medicare representatives to obtain Medicare or Social Security numbers, and a hospital scam where fraudsters pose as Fairbanks Memorial Hospital demanding payment on overdue accounts. Residents are advised to hang up on unsolicited callers, independently verify phone numbers before returning calls, and never provide Medicare or Social Security numbers to callers they did not contact, as legitimate Medicare will not request this information unprompted.