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An 86-year-old North Little Rock, Arkansas woman lost nearly $10,000 in a tech support scam on May 8th after seeing a malware warning on her computer and looking up Microsoft's phone number herself. The scammer convinced her that a $150 refund had incorrectly processed as $115,000 and pressured her into sending back nearly $10,000 to "reverse the damage," exploiting her trust because she believed she had initiated the call to an official number.

Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old from Las Vegas, faces multiple federal charges including fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death for crimes committed between July 2021 and December 2022. Prior to these charges, Phelps was accused in a 2019 Arkansas case of drugging a woman and stealing her credit card, and has an additional case from 2017 related to filing a false police report. She is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges and authorities are pursuing extradition while coordinating with local law enforcement on the Arkansas cases.

Aurora Phelps, 43, of Las Vegas is charged with federal crimes including fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death for romance scams conducted between July 2021 and December 2022, where she allegedly drugged victims and stole from them. Phelps has a prior 2019 Arkansas case where she was accused of drugging a woman and stealing her credit card, as well as a separate 2017 Benton County case involving a false police report; she is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges and faces extradition proceedings.

The Arkansas Attorney General is warning residents about a resurfacing text messaging scam targeting toll road users. The alert advises residents to be cautious of unsolicited texts claiming to be from toll road operators, which are used to steal personal and financial information.

An Arkansas woman was arrested following an FBI raid in Little Rock on federal charges of mail fraud and money laundering related to fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. According to court documents, she falsified employee counts and payroll amounts to obtain four separate PPP loans, which are designed to help businesses maintain payroll during economic hardship.

This episode of Talk Business and Politics discusses the Arkansas banking sector, featuring Brad Chambless, the new chairman of the Arkansas Bankers Association, and Arkansas Bank Commissioner Susannah Marshall. The guests highlight the banking association's key priorities, including combating elder financial exploitation, supporting service members and veterans, and addressing cybersecurity challenges, while also discussing relevant legislation that empowers banks to take protective actions against elder fraud.

Following a state of emergency declaration in Arkansas, Attorney General Tim Griffin warned homeowners about post-storm rebuilding scams and reminded contractors that price-gouging prohibitions under Act 367 are now in effect, limiting price increases to 10 percent above pre-disaster rates for essential goods and home repair services for 180 days. Griffin advised homeowners to obtain multiple repair estimates, verify contractor references, avoid signing blank contracts, and never pay in full before work completion. Violations of the price-gouging law carry fines up to $10,000 and are prosecuted as violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

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.

Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder warned residents of scam calls from someone posing as Chief Deputy Shannon Anthony, who falsely claimed victims had unpaid warrants requiring immediate payment—a common fraud tactic. The sheriff clarified that his office never contacts people by phone to collect fines or warrant payments and encouraged residents to hang up on such calls, even humorously inviting them to contact the suspect's phone number to express their displeasure with the scam activities.

86-year-old Sandra Jung of Little Rock, Arkansas lost nearly $10,000 in a tech support scam after seeing a malware pop-up and calling what she believed was Microsoft's official number from a Google search result. The scammer convinced her that an erroneous $15,000 refund (instead of the promised $150) had been deposited and manipulated her into sending back nearly $10,000 to "resolve" the issue. Jung filed a report with the Attorney General's office but is unlikely to recover the funds.

Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield provides guidance on identifying senior scams. The article emphasizes awareness and prevention strategies to help seniors recognize and avoid fraudulent schemes targeting their age group.

Scammers impersonating law enforcement officers are calling Arkansas residents and demanding payment via wire transfer, prepaid cards, or gift cards to resolve alleged criminal matters or enroll in fake rehabilitation programs, using caller ID spoofing and pre-recorded messages to deceive victims. Attorney General Tim Griffin advises people never to send money to callers claiming to be law enforcement, to verify caller identity by independently calling the agency, and to never share personal information over the phone. Victims should report fraudulent calls to the Attorney General's Office with details of the call time, number, and message.

An Arkansas nurse lost over $1M in life savings to the XChief cryptocurrency investment scam, which promised high returns but prevented withdrawals when she attempted to access her funds. Crypto Crime Investigation (CCI) successfully recovered the majority of the stolen cryptocurrency through specialized investigative techniques and collaboration with law enforcement. The case underscores the importance of reporting crypto scams and seeking expert guidance to prevent future victimization.

The Baxter County Sheriff's Office warned of a scam in which callers impersonate law enforcement or court officials, claiming residents missed court dates and must immediately send money to avoid arrest. The sheriff's office emphasized they do not make such calls and urged residents not to send money or provide personal information like names, dates of birth, or addresses to the callers.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the arrest of three individuals in separate Medicaid fraud and elder abuse cases: Hanna Christmas was charged with felony Medicaid fraud for billing school districts $5,490.72 for physical therapy services never provided; Ja'Layia McClendon was charged with felony abuse of an endangered person after witnesses saw her strike an 82-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease at an assisted living center, causing facial and forearm bruising; and Trey Franks was charged with felony abuse after $1,086.26 in unauthorized transfers were made from a long-term care facility resident's account to his credit card between September and October

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit arrested three individuals—Hannah Christmas, 34, of Hamburg; Ja'Layia McClendon, 28, of North Little Rock; and Trey Franks, 28, of Jacksonville—following fraud investigations. The article does not specify the nature of the alleged Medicaid fraud or provide additional details about the charges or outcomes.

Three individuals were arrested in separate incidents involving Medicaid fraud and elder abuse following investigations by Arkansas's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Hanna Christmas faced felony Medicaid fraud charges for billing school districts $5,490.72 for physical therapy services never provided; Ja'Layia J. McClendon was charged with felony abuse after witnesses saw her strike an 82-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease at an assisted living center; and Trey Franks was charged with felony abuse for making unauthorized bank transfers totaling $1,086.26 from a long-term care facility resident's account between September and October 2023.

Three Arkansas residents were arrested on October 31 on separate charges of elder abuse and Medicaid fraud. Ja'Layia McClendon was arrested for physically assaulting an 82-year-old woman with Alzheimer's at an assisted living facility, leaving her with facial and forearm bruises; Trey Franks was arrested for fraudulently transferring over $1,000 from a long-term care resident's bank account in five transfers between September and October 2023; and Hannah Christmas was charged with Medicaid fraud for billing school districts $5,500 for physical therapy services never provided between August 2023 and April 2024.

During the 2023 holiday season, Arkansas saw a surge in scam reports, with 53 complaints submitted to the Better Business Bureau in one month, including fake Facebook ads for online shopping and "smishing" text messages impersonating USPS requesting personal information. One victim, Lisa Kirkpatrick, lost money on a counterfeit Old Navy ad and was further threatened by scammers claiming that disputing the charge would damage her credit. The USPS Inspection Service launched a "Don't Get Snowed" campaign urging people not to click suspicious links, report messages to authorities, and conduct urgent financial transactions in person rather than via unsolicited online communications.

A 28-year-old caregiver in North Little Rock, Arkansas pleaded guilty to elder abuse after striking an 82-year-old dementia and Alzheimer's patient at a senior living facility, leaving her with facial and forearm bruises. McClendon was sentenced to five years of probation and a $1,000 fine in Pulaski County Circuit Court.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old remote customer service representative for a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers by abusing her access to their personal information and account details. Brown used wires, electronic debits, and Zelle to transfer victim funds and attempted to steal an additional $428,526.85 in total during her employment from December 2021 to May 2023.

This article provides tips from Early Warning on avoiding romance scams, though specific details about the scams or advice are not included in the provided text excerpt. The piece appears to be a brief awareness notice directing readers to additional resources for more information.

A 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, Aurora Phelps, was arrested in Mexico for operating romance scams targeting older men across multiple states from 2019-2022. Phelps met victims on dating sites, gained their trust, drugged them with sedatives, and stole their financial information and bank accounts, with one victim allegedly losing millions in liquidated stock; the FBI identified at least four victims (two from Nevada, one each from Arkansas and Mexico) and believes three U.S. citizens died as a result of her crimes. Phelps faces 21 federal charges including bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death, and is awaiting extra

Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, was federally charged in February 2025 with wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft for carrying out romance scams targeting older men between July 2021 and December 2022, in which she allegedly drugged victims and stole from their financial accounts. She also faces Arkansas charges stemming from a June 2019 incident where she drugged a woman and stole her credit card, resulting in approximately $5,000 in fraudulent charges. Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico on murder charges, with her Arkansas hearings postponed to March 2025, and authorities are

Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old Las Vegas woman, faces federal charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and kidnapping resulting in death for a scheme in which she met older men on dating websites, drugged them, and stole thousands of dollars from their financial accounts between 2021 and 2022. Three of her alleged victims died, and she has been charged in connection with one death; she also faces separate 2019 Arkansas charges for drugging a woman and fraudulently using her credit card for over $5,000 in purchases. The FBI is seeking additional victims and notes Phelps used multiple aliases and operated across Arkansas, Nevada, an

A woman in Arkansas has been charged with theft and fraud in connection with romance scams that allegedly resulted in at least one death. The charges stem from her involvement in scamming victims through romantic deception schemes, though specific dollar amounts and additional victim details are not provided in the headline excerpt.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old Arkansas woman employed as a customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers by exploiting her access to their personal information and security questions. Brown used wire transfers, electronic debits, and Zelle to commit the fraud and had attempted to steal an additional $428,526.85 before her arrest; she pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in January.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing over $301,000 from at least 10 elderly customers. Brown abused her authorized access to customer accounts to fraudulently transfer funds via wires, electronic debits, and Zelle, targeting elderly victims she knew were unfamiliar with electronic banking.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old Arkansas woman employed as a customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing over $300,000 from at least 10 elderly customers. Brown exploited her authorized access to personal identifying information and account details to conduct wire fraud, transferring stolen funds via wire transfers, electronic debits, and Zelle payments, with attempted theft totaling $428,526.85. She pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of wire fraud and was specifically criticized for deliberately targeting elderly victims unfamiliar with electronic banking.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old Arkansas customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers. Brown exploited her job access to customers' personal information and account details to conduct unauthorized transfers via wire, electronic debits, and the Zelle app, with attempted theft totaling $428,526.85.

I cannot provide a summary of this content because it is a journalist biography rather than an article about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. This text describes Dale Ellis's professional background and work history at various news outlets. To assist you with Elderus database summaries, please provide an actual article or transcript about fraud, scams, or elder abuse.

An Arkansas woman who worked as a customer service representative at a bank was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing from elderly customers. The defendant deliberately exploited her position of trust and targeted elderly account holders, particularly those unfamiliar with electronic banking.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers using unauthorized access to their personal information and account details. Brown exploited her position of trust to transfer victim funds via wires, electronic debits, and Zelle, targeting elderly account holders she knew were unfamiliar with electronic banking.

A 68-year-old Little Rock man, David Nelson, was arrested for operating a sweepstakes scam that defrauded an Ohio senior citizen of over $89,000. Nelson posed as a Publishers Clearing House employee and convinced the victim she had won $3 million, then persuaded her to send personal checks for taxes before claiming the prize. He faces felony theft charges in Franklin County, Ohio, and is currently awaiting extradition from an Arkansas jail.

A Franklin County senior citizen lost nearly $90,000 in a sweepstakes scam after being told she won $3 million from Publishers Clearing House and needed to pay taxes upfront via personal checks sent to Arkansas. David Nelson, 68, of Little Rock was arrested and charged with felony theft in connection with the scheme. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office advised the public to be skeptical of unsolicited calls, avoid sharing personal information, resist pressure for immediate payments, and watch for high-pressure tactics and "free" offers.

Arkansas seniors suffered $27.25 million in fraud losses during 2024, part of a national epidemic where those over 60 lost $4.885 billion to scams—a 46% increase from 2023. Common schemes targeting older adults include investment fraud, tech support scams, romance scams, and money mule schemes, which succeed because seniors tend to be trusting and may be unfamiliar with reporting mechanisms. The FBI recommends seniors verify unknown contacts through reputable sources, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid unsolicited contact, never share personal information with unverified parties, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or IC3.gov.

**Elder Fraud on Rise in Arkansas and Nationally** The FBI reported that seniors over 60 lost $4.885 billion nationally in 2024 across 147,127 fraud complaints—a 46% increase from 2023—with Arkansas seniors alone losing $27.3 million to investment scams, technical support scams, money mule schemes, and romance fraud. Seniors are targeted because they tend to be trusting and may be unfamiliar with reporting channels like IC3.gov. The FBI recommends verifying unknown contacts through legitimate sources, resisting pressure to act quickly, avoiding unsolicited communications, never sharing personal information with unverified parties

Elder fraud complaints increased 46% in 2024, with victims nationwide losing $4.885 billion—a 43% increase from 2023—while Arkansas seniors over 60 alone lost more than $27 million. The FBI identifies investment schemes, technical support scams, romance fraud, and money mule operations as common tactics targeting elderly individuals perceived as more trusting and financially stable. The FBI recommends seniors research unknown contacts, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid sharing personal information with unverified sources, and report suspected fraud through their tip line or online complaint center.

Sextortion cases in Arkansas have already exceeded the total number of incidents reported throughout 2024, according to state police investigators. The scam involves perpetrators convincing teenagers to share explicit images online and subsequently using those images for blackmail, with investigators anticipating a further surge in cases during the summer months.

Arkansas is experiencing a rise in SNAP card fraud, with thieves primarily using skimmers at retail card readers to steal benefits from accounts. The state's SNAP cards lack embedded security chips—a feature that has reduced fraud by 76% in credit and debit cards—though the Arkansas Department of Human Services is working with its card issuer to enhance security measures. Attorney General Tim Griffin noted that even with improved card security, scammers will continue using impersonation and phishing tactics to compromise cardholders' information.

Jordan Vales, 21, of Trumann, Arkansas, was arrested on charges of Medicaid fraud after submitting false claims for services he never provided as a fraudulent employee and caregiver at First Choice Home Care between June 2022 and December 2023. The scheme resulted in $96,711.68 in fraudulent Medicaid payments. Attorney General Tim Griffin praised the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Special Agent Laura Glover for their investigation and arrest of Vales on the Class A felony charge.

The Arkansas Department of Commerce is warning of phishing scams targeting former unemployment insurance claimants, in which scammers impersonate the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services via email to steal personal information like Social Security numbers and dates of birth through fake Wix websites. To avoid the scam, residents should verify that emails come from official @arkansas.gov addresses, avoid clicking suspicious links, and only enter information on official government websites including ezarc.arkansas.gov, arknet.arkansas.gov, login.gov, and launch.arkansas.gov.

Baxter County, Arkansas is experiencing a rise in scams targeting residents, prompting local law enforcement to host a public call-in program with Sheriff John Montgomery to educate citizens on fraud prevention. The initiative follows recent arrests of three men accused of acting as "money mules" for overseas scam operations; common schemes affecting residents include government impersonation, tech support fraud, fake sweepstakes, romance scams, and home repair fraud using phishing emails, robocalls, and spoofed numbers.

The Arkansas Department of Health warned SNAP users about circulating scams targeting SNAP benefits in Arkansas and other states. The department recommends updating account information, changing PIN numbers, watching for card skimmers, and verifying phone numbers to prevent fraud and to report stolen funds promptly.

The Arkansas Securities Department reports a substantial increase in financial fraud targeting elderly Arkansans, with older Americans nationwide reporting $4.885 billion in losses from 147,127 complaints in 2024, including 1,063 Arkansas victims who lost $27.25 million. Common schemes include social media scams, romance fraud, and "pig butchering" scams that build trust before encouraging cryptocurrency investments, with seniors being targeted due to accumulated savings, higher trust levels, and social isolation. The ASD advises elderly investors to avoid unsolicited investment opportunities claiming guaranteed returns, secrecy, or low risk with high returns, and encourages reporting suspected fraud to 800.981.4

Fraudsters in Arkansas and nationwide are increasingly targeting seniors by offering free medical equipment in exchange for their Medicare numbers, then billing Medicare for devices the seniors never ordered or needed. This scheme not only costs Medicare millions but can deny seniors legitimate coverage when they actually need medical care. Seniors should verify any medical orders with their doctors, return unsolicited items, contact Medicare to dispute fraudulent claims, and report suspected fraud to the Arkansas Attorney General or by calling 1-800-Medicare.