Explore the Archive

The FBI Phoenix office has warned Arizona residents about the "Phantom Hacker" scam, in which victims are manipulated into draining their bank accounts and depositing cash into Bitcoin ATMs, resulting in permanent loss of funds. Scammers use sophisticated tactics, including impersonating trusted companies like Microsoft and keeping victims on the phone for extended periods to build trust. Local law enforcement has limited ability to recover the stolen money or apprehend the criminals responsible for this scheme targeting vulnerable people.

Several Arizona residents lost their entire savings to a phantom hacker scam that begins with a fake error message claiming computer compromise, followed by fake customer service representatives gaining remote access and then coordinating with fake bank officials to convince victims to transfer funds to cryptocurrency ATMs. The FBI recommends avoiding unknown calls, educating family members, and immediately reporting suspicious online interactions to ic3.gov.

Scammers are using artificial intelligence to clone voices and create fake audio and video impersonations to defraud victims, with AI impostor scams becoming the leading form of fraud in the past year, affecting over 850,000 people and causing $2.7 billion in losses. A common variant involves victims receiving frantic calls from AI-cloned voices of family members claiming to be kidnapped and demanding ransom money, as exemplified by an Arizona mother who testified before Congress after receiving a convincing call from her daughter's cloned voice begging for help. Experts warn this emerging fraud threat requires increased awareness and caution, as voice cloning technology has become easily accessible to bad actors worldwide

Americans lost over $1 billion to romance scams last year, with many Arizona residents targeted. The three most prevalent romance scam tactics involve deepfake video calls using face-swapping technology (employed by Nigerian crime groups), cryptocurrency investment schemes that promise high returns once trust is established, and celebrity deepfakes using artificial intelligence. Victims can protect themselves by watching for unnatural video call indicators like inconsistent blinking, mismatched skin tones, and words not synchronizing with mouth movements.

Arizona Attorney General Chris Mayes issued a warning to senior citizens about cryptocurrency scams that commonly target vulnerable populations through social media, dating apps, and fake investment advisor schemes promising unrealistic returns. Scammers typically pose as trusted contacts or investment professionals and pressure victims to send Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency as payment. The Attorney General advises seniors to verify claims with independent sources, avoid using scammer-provided contact information, and report suspicious activity, noting that legitimate businesses never demand cryptocurrency-only payments.

Scammers stole over $100 million from older Americans last year, with Arizona ranking sixth nationally for elder fraud according to the FBI. A 77-year-old Arizona woman hired a landscaper who worked one day, then disappeared after she gave him a check and gift card—he never completed the job and she had to stop payment at her bank. Experts note that older adults are vulnerable because they tend to trust people who make promises, and it's difficult to change that mindset, making them targets for financial scams involving home services and other schemes.

Law enforcement is warning the public about a surge in romance scams during the holiday season, when vulnerable individuals—particularly those feeling lonely or grieving—are targeted by scammers. An Arizona man lost over $660,000 to a scammer posing as a single woman on Instagram, though he was able to recover some funds by canceling credit card transactions. Experts note that most romance scam victims are embarrassed to report their losses and that perpetrators are typically based overseas.

This article is not relevant to the Elderus elder fraud research database. It covers the unveiling of Arizona's largest mural at Parkplace mall in Tucson, created by artist Jessica Gonzalez—a cultural/arts story with no connection to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.

Elderly fraud cases in Arizona increased 36% from 2022 to 2023, prompting the Pima County Sheriff's Department to host "Fight Fraud Day" in Green Valley, a retirement community frequently targeted by scammers. The presentation educated residents about common scams including lottery prizes, telemarketing schemes, and attempts to access bank accounts and credit cards, with law enforcement emphasizing that education and awareness are key to preventing victimization.

This article is about a homicide investigation, not elder fraud. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of 53-year-old Paul Clifford in the Redington area of Pima County, Arizona; Clifford was lured from his home by a stranger claiming to have car troubles and was later found dead next to a burning vehicle. Two suspects are being held on $1 million bonds each, while the third is held on a $500,000 bond. **Note:** This content does not relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse and falls outside the scope of the Elderus database.

Backpage.com owners were convicted and sentenced to federal prison for operating a website that generated over $500 million from advertisements for sex work, including those posted by trafficked individuals, some as young as children; a federal court in Arizona is now determining restitution amounts from $25 million in seized assets to compensate nearly a dozen victims and families, including two women murdered by clients who found them on the site. The case represents a rare legal victory for victims of sex trafficking who were exploited on the platform that prosecutors described as "the world's largest online brothel."

A Mesa woman purchased a 2009 Nissan Cube from a used car lot called Ideal Cars only to discover it had a defective title, preventing her from registering the vehicle or obtaining license plates for nearly a year. The dealership should not have sold a car without a clear title, and both the dealership and Arizona's Motor Vehicle Division initially refused to assist her. After a local news investigation brought attention to the case, the matter was finally resolved.

Scammers are targeting Arizona vacationers with existing travel reservations by creating fake websites and customer service numbers that appear in online search results for legitimate airlines and cruise lines like American, United, and Royal Caribbean. One couple lost $2,500 to this customer service scam, which the Better Business Bureau reports has been growing in popularity over recent months as criminals make fake sites increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate ones.

A Glendale man, 40-year-old Kinsley Ibodori, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role as a money launderer in a romance scam operation that defrauded victims of nearly $4 million. Ibodori, a Nigerian citizen and lawful US resident, opened 24 bank accounts using fake names and personally withdrew over $500,000 in stolen funds as part of the sophisticated scheme.

Arizona Attorney General Chris Mace is conducting statewide educational outreach on elder fraud targeting the state's growing senior population, noting that one in ten older adults will experience abuse or exploitation. The transcript highlights a voice cloning scam in which a woman received a fraudulent call claiming her daughter was in danger, with AI-generated voice technology making the deception particularly convincing. Mace emphasizes that seniors are targeted because they often have substantial savings, and education is the primary tool to help people recognize and prevent such scams.

A Jamaican man, Sherwane Benjamin Bellfonte, was extradited to Arizona and is facing charges for defrauding an 85-year-old woman in Tucson of approximately $400,000 through a combined lottery and romance scam. Bellfonte posed as an engaged suitor, sending flowers and love messages while convincing the victim to send money, in a case authorities note represents a rare successful international prosecution of an online scammer.

A Jamaican man named Sherwane Benjamin Bellfonte, known as "the Iceman," was extradited to Tucson to face federal prosecution for an elaborate romance and sweepstakes scam targeting an 85-year-old woman from Veil, Arizona, between December 2015 and January 2019. Bellfonte and his co-conspirators defrauded the now-deceased victim of approximately $400,000 by posing as a romantic interest while pressuring her to send money. The FBI reports increasing numbers of similar scams targeting Arizona's elderly population.

The Arizona Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Edward Albarasin and Gretchen Zamyan and over 50 of their businesses (operating under names like Hands with Hope) for running a real estate scam targeting elderly Arizona homeowners. The defendants allegedly deceived senior citizens, including at least five individuals with physical or mental impairments, into signing over their property deeds through lies and fraudulent notarizations. The Attorney General is seeking restitution and a permanent ban on the defendants' future real estate dealings.

In 2022, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported 680 Arizona victims lost over $25.4 million to romance scams, with senior citizens accounting for 379 victims and $17.7 million in losses. Romance scams involve fraudsters building fake relationships to trick victims into sending money, personal information, or valuables. The FBI recommends verifying online suitors' identities, never sharing financial information or money with people met online, and watching for red flags such as reluctance to meet in person, requests to go offline quickly, or pressure to share inappropriate content.

This appears to be a news headlines summary page rather than a single article about elder fraud, scams, or abuse. The headlines cover topics including trade policy, aviation jobs, a sobering facility, a house fire, hiking safety concerns, and domestic violence services—none of which relate to elder fraud or elder abuse. No summary relevant to the Elderus database can be provided from this content.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced a settlement with Senita Ridge assisted living facility requiring the removal of all secrecy clauses from its arbitration agreements, preventing victims of abuse or neglect from being silenced. The settlement establishes a precedent for transparency and allows the Attorney General's office to investigate systemic mistreatment of vulnerable adults, which was previously hidden in confidential arbitrations. Attorney General Mayes urged other Arizona assisted living facilities to voluntarily remove similar secrecy clauses or face legal intervention.

During Consumer Protection Week 2024, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes released the state's top five consumer fraud complaint categories for 2023: motor vehicle sales/repairs/rentals, mortgage and real estate, telecommunications, telemarketing/phone scams/unsolicited texts, and banking. In 2023, the Attorney General's office recovered nearly $4 million for consumers while handling over 17,000 complaints, and provided prevention tips for each fraud category, such as obtaining written agreements for vehicle purchases, reviewing bills for unauthorized charges, and never sending money via gift cards or cryptocurrency in response to unsolicited calls.

Susan Guthrie, a 76-year-old widow from Arizona, lost her entire life savings of $25,000 to a tech support scam in February when fraudsters posing as Microsoft employees convinced her that her computer had been hacked and instructed her to transfer money to them via Bitcoin ATM for safekeeping. Despite initial resistance to believing she'd been scammed, Guthrie was finally convinced of the fraud when her bank manager confirmed the funds were gone; however, authorities were unable to recover the money. A GoFundMe campaign subsequently raised over $27,700 for Guthrie, preventing her from financial destitution.

This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a political statement from Arizona's Attorney General clarifying that IVF treatment remains legal in Arizona and announcing her office's commitment to protecting reproductive rights. This content falls outside the scope of the Elderus elder fraud research database and should not be summarized for that purpose.

Joyce Petrowski, president of Resources/Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly (R.O.S.E.), will present fraud awareness and prevention strategies at the Sun Lakes Jewish War Veterans post meeting on March 17, focusing on scams targeting seniors including internet imposters, phone/robo calls, IRS fraud, and romance scams. R.O.S.E., a nonprofit founded after Petrowski's personal experience with elder fraud, delivers face-to-face education programs across Arizona to help older adults and families recognize and prevent victimization. The presentation aims to reduce both financial losses and the number of elderly fraud victims in the community.

Over 100 Sun City residents attended a March 20 scam prevention seminar hosted by Chase Bank and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, where officials reported that fraud and scams are rising nationally and particularly in retirement communities. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Captain Brian Stutsman noted that Arizona ranked 10th nationally for fraud in 2022, with losses reaching over $10 billion in 2023, and that a nine-month period in the Sun Cities resulted in $2.7 million in losses, though actual figures are likely higher due to underreporting caused by shame and embarrassment.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit against Heritage Village Assisted Living in Mesa alleging elder abuse and consumer fraud by the facility's owners, and requested that the court appoint a receiver to take control of the facility while the case proceeds. The Arizona Department of Health Services intends to revoke the facility's license due to repeated severe violations, and the receivership action aims to prevent the need to relocate approximately 150 vulnerable residents while ensuring they receive proper care.

Arizona's Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Heritage Village Assisted Living in Mesa, alleging elder abuse and consumer fraud by the facility's owners, and requested a court-appointed receiver to take control of the operation while the case proceeds. The facility, home to approximately 150 residents, faced license revocation by the Arizona Department of Health Services in January due to repeated severe violations, prompting the AG to seek immediate intervention to prevent resident displacement and ensure adequate care. The Attorney General aims to remove current ownership, install competent management, and ultimately find new owners while permanently barring the current owners from contact with vulnerable adults in Arizona.

Heritage Village Assisted Living in Mesa was sued by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes for abuse and consumer fraud, with allegations that owners Gary Langendoen and Matthew Arnold falsely marketed the facility as capable of providing specialized care while consistently understaffing it and failing to provide proper physician evaluations for vulnerable residents. The facility's license was revoked by the Arizona Department of Health Services in January 2024 due to repeated violations, and the attorney general requested that the court appoint a receiver to take over operations and remove the owners from control to protect the approximately 150 residents, including many who are bedbound.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sued Heritage Village Assisted Living in Mesa and requested court-appointed receivership to take control of the facility, alleging elder abuse and consumer fraud by owners Gary Langendoen and Matthew Arnold and other defendants. The facility, housing approximately 150 residents, had its license set for revocation by the Arizona Department of Health Services due to repeated severe violations, and the receivership seeks to prevent resident displacement while the lawsuit proceeds. The Attorney General is seeking permanent removal of current ownership and potential dissolution of the companies involved under the Adult Protective Services Act.

This article does not contain content relevant to Elderus, the elder fraud research database. The article covers various local news topics in Arizona including road rage incidents, a bar closure, a body discovery, police actions, school funding cuts, and political statements—none of which involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse.

**Elder Fraud/Abuse Summary:** Heritage Village Assisted Living, a Mesa elder care facility, was sued by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes for abuse and consumer fraud, with allegations that owners Gary Langendoen and Matthew Arnold billed the facility as capable of providing specialized care to vulnerable adults while maintaining consistently inadequate staffing levels. The Arizona Department of Health Services had already notified the facility in January that its license would be revoked due to repeated violations of state law, and the AG requested that the owners lose control of the home during litigation.

Arizona's Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Heritage Village Assisted Living in Mesa, alleging elder abuse and consumer fraud, and requested court appointment of a receiver to manage the facility while the case proceeds. The Department of Health Services had previously announced plans to revoke the facility's license due to repeated severe violations, with the receivership application characterizing it as "perhaps the most notorious assisted living facility in Arizona."

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a 60-page lawsuit against Heritage Village Assisted Living in Mesa, alleging elder abuse and consumer fraud with a pattern of severe state law violations, seeking court takeover of the facility. A family of a current resident reported experiencing neglect, including being locked out after visits, residents with unexplained marks, and their father with dementia lacking proper linens and clothing, though they did not personally witness physical abuse. The facility disputes the allegations and states it has made staffing and operational improvements since 2022, including expanding staff and implementing additional oversight measures.

This is not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a political statement from Arizona's Attorney General regarding a court decision on abortion law. It does not fit the subject matter of the Elderus database, which focuses on fraud and abuse against elderly populations.

Joan Salcido of Surprise, Arizona lost nearly $20,000 to an imposter scam in which a fraudster posing as Wells Fargo sent her a text fraud alert, then called using a spoofed bank number to convince her to wire money to a separate account for "protection." The scammer used smooth, convincing tactics and had ready answers for her concerns, eventually persuading her to complete the wire transfer despite her initial hesitation. Experts warn that requests to move money to protect it and pressure to act quickly are major red flags, and that banks typically cannot recover funds lost to imposter scammers.

This article does not describe elder fraud, a scam, or elder abuse. It concerns a criminal homicide investigation in Arizona involving two individuals in their 40s. This content falls outside the scope of the Elderus elder fraud research database.

This article does not relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It reports on a homicide case in Pinal County, Arizona, where 49-year-old Javier Lopez was arrested in connection with the death of 43-year-old Christina Lopez. This is a violent crime matter outside the scope of the Elderus database.

This article does not appear to be related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It describes a criminal assault case involving a suspect accused of randomly attacking multiple women on an ASU campus. As this falls outside the scope of Elderus (an elder fraud research database), it is not appropriate for summarization in this context.

Donald Franklin Huegel, a California man, was sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded two elderly Arizona women of over $481,000 combined. Working with co-conspirators in Africa, Huegel used fake online profiles ("Chad Callahan" and "Michael Williams") to build romantic relationships with his victims, then manipulated them into sending money through various tactics including identity theft threats. A restitution hearing is pending, and Huegel will serve three years of probation following his prison term.

California resident Donald Franklin Huegel was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded two elderly Arizona residents of nearly $400,000 over two years. Huegel participated in the scheme by funneling victim payments to co-conspirators in Africa after victims were lured by fake online profiles ("Chad Callahan" and "Michael Williams") and manipulated into sending money under false pretenses, including claims their identities were on the Dark Web. The first victim lost over $90,000 and the second lost over $367,000; Huegel was convicted of fraudulent schemes, money laundering, and theft, and will be required to pay

California resident Donald Franklin Huegel was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in romance scams targeting two elderly Arizona victims, stealing nearly $400,000. Huegel posed as a romantic interest online (using aliases like "Chad Callahan" and "Michael Williams") and funneled victims' money to co-conspirators in Africa, with one victim sending over $90,000 and another sending over $367,000. He was convicted of fraudulent schemes, money laundering, and theft, with a restitution hearing to be scheduled for the victims.

Donald Franklin Huegel, a California resident, was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded two elderly Arizona victims of nearly $400,000 combined. Operating for two years, Huegel funneled money from victims who were contacted by scammers posing as romantic interests online (using fake profiles "Chad Callahan" and "Michael Williams") and later threatened with identity theft claims to extract additional payments. Huegel was convicted of fraudulent schemes, illegal enterprise, money laundering, and theft, with restitution to be determined at a future hearing.

Connie Seddon, a retired radiation technician from Arizona, lost $35,000 to scammers who impersonated McAfee through a phishing email in January. After calling the fraudulent number, the scammer convinced her that money had been incorrectly deposited into her account and instructed her to withdraw cash and deposit it into Bitcoin machines at gas stations, with the bank teller's concerns dismissed by Seddon's false claim that she was buying a car. Seddon reported the incident to local police, the FBI, and the FTC, though authorities indicated recovery of the funds was unlikely.

A Fostoria, Ohio woman fell victim to a Facebook impersonation scam when hackers posed as her friend requesting her phone number under the pretense of account recovery, gaining access to her Facebook account and a linked debit card that resulted in unauthorized charges of $441 for an airline ticket to Australia and $113 to ARC. The same scammers subsequently used the same tactic to compromise accounts of her friends and family members across multiple states including Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Arizona, and Texas. Local authorities advise users to unlink payment methods from social media accounts and verify requests through independent contact methods before providing personal information.

A Mesa assisted living facility called Heritage Village was placed under court-appointed receivership in April 2024 after the Arizona Attorney General filed a lawsuit alleging abuse and consumer fraud at the facility serving approximately 150 residents. The facility had received 148 state citations over three years—2.5 times more than any other assisted living facility—and faced license revocation for repeated violations. The receivership appointment allows the facility to continue operating under third-party oversight while new qualified ownership is sought, rather than being shut down entirely.

The FBI Phoenix detailed a sophisticated "Phantom Hacker" scam targeting elderly Arizonans that has resulted in multiple victims losing their life savings. The scam typically begins with a fake pop-up warning of computer compromise, followed by scammers posing as representatives from legitimate companies and banks who gain remote access to victims' computers, monitor their banking activity, and then direct them to transfer funds to cryptocurrency ATMs. FBI officials indicate the scammers, often operating from overseas locations like Russia and China, are successful in returning victims' funds approximately two-thirds to three-quarters of the time when reports are made within one to two days of the transaction.

Arizona's Attorney General appointed a receiver to take control of an assisted living facility in Mesa after alleging elder abuse and consumer fraud by its former owners. The receiver will operate the facility under court direction to protect its 150 residents and ensure compliance with state regulations while the state continues its litigation.

An Arizona assisted living facility, Heritage Village in Mesa, was placed under court-ordered receivership following allegations of elder abuse and consumer fraud by the Arizona Attorney General. The facility, which houses 150 residents, had been operating under management by real estate companies rather than qualified healthcare providers and faced a license revocation notice after the state identified dozens of violations, including a 2023 incident involving employee sexual assault of a resident. The appointment of a court-appointed receiver was intended to protect residents, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage finances while the current owners are permanently barred from resuming operations.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the indictment of 16 individuals, including attorneys John Eastman, Boris Epshteyn, Christina Bobb, and Jenna Ellis, in connection with a fake elector scheme related to the 2020 presidential election. The defendants face charges including fraud, forgery, and conspiracy classified as class 2, 4, and 5 felonies, with additional defendants indicted but not yet named pending service of indictment documents.