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A man named Harsh Kir Patel (also known as "Dirty Harry") was arrested and charged in U.S. federal court with transporting illegal aliens and conspiracy in connection with the deaths of the Patel family—a couple and their two children (ages 11 and 3) who froze to death while attempting to illegally cross from Manitoba into Minnesota in 2022. According to court documents, Patel allegedly managed a gambling business in Florida and recruited another smuggler, Steve Shand, to facilitate the illegal border crossing that resulted in the family's deaths.

Florida ranks second-highest in the nation for elderly fraud, with adults over 60 reporting nearly $3.5 billion in losses nationally and approximately $300 million in Florida losses, according to FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data. Tech support scams led fraud cases in 2023, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence to disguise their identities. Law enforcement advises seniors not to answer calls from unknown numbers and to be aware that legitimate authorities will not call ahead to warn of warrants or missed jury duty.

According to an FBI report, Florida seniors over age 60 lost more than $290 million to fraud in 2023, ranking the state second worst in the nation, with scams targeting this age group increasing 11% from 2022 and averaging nearly $34,000 per victim. The most common fraud schemes include investment scams, fake tech support, online romance scams, and law enforcement impersonation schemes, with many cases going unreported due to victim shame.

Malvertising scams are rising in Florida, where cybercriminals purchase fake advertisements on search engines to trick users into clicking malicious links that redirect to fraudulent websites designed to install malware on devices. Florida's Attorney General warns that these deceptive ads mimic legitimate websites and are difficult to distinguish, with malware incidents peaking in February and March and showing a nearly 300% increase over the last three quarters. Protection measures include pausing before clicking suspicious ads, installing ad blockers, updating browsers, reviewing computer plugins, and using antivirus software.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 556 into law to protect seniors and vulnerable adults from scams, which allows banks to delay money transfers if employees suspect fraud is occurring. The legislation addresses a rising problem in senior communities, including romance scams, tech support scams, and sweepstakes fraud that have financially drained many elderly residents. The law empowers financial institutions to intervene and potentially prevent losses before money leaves accounts.

Volusia County Sheriff's Office partnered with a free community screening of the film "Thelma"—which depicts a 93-year-old grandmother being scammed—to raise awareness about elder fraud, which costs older Americans billions of dollars annually and significantly affects Central Florida seniors. Law enforcement officers provided prevention advice to attendees, emphasizing strategies such as not answering unknown phone numbers, ignoring unfamiliar text messages, and contacting police or trusted neighbors when uncertain.

In the past year, over 65,000 Americans lost more than $1 billion to romance scams, with Florida ranking second in the nation for victim count according to the Federal Trade Commission. An Orlando woman featured in the investigation fell victim after developing an online relationship with someone claiming to be "Matthew," who built trust through pictures, poetry, and personal conversations before requesting money for an overseas emergency when his credit card stopped working in Nigeria.

Over 65,000 Americans fell victim to romance scams in the last year, losing more than $1 billion collectively, with Florida ranking second nationally in victim count according to the Federal Trade Commission. An Orlando woman named Rebecca D'Antonio lost approximately $5,000+ across multiple transactions after developing an online relationship with someone posing as "Matthew Shawn," who fabricated an emergency overseas requiring financial assistance. The scammer used photos, poetry, and false promises of an in-person meeting to build trust before requesting money for a fabricated crisis.

Following Hurricane Milton's landfall in Florida, homeowners are warned to research contractors carefully before hiring them for repairs, as out-of-state "fly-by-night" contractors often take cash upfront and disappear without completing work. Red flags include unsolicited door-to-door solicitation, and homeowners should verify contractors are licensed through their county, check online reviews, and hire local, reputable professionals to avoid being scammed during the cleanup and repair process.

**Summary:** During hurricane disasters in Florida and the Southeast, scammers exploit donors' generosity through fraudulent charitable solicitations via email, text messages, phone calls, door-to-door visits, and social media. Former FBI agent Scott Augenbomb advises verifying charities by visiting their official websites directly rather than using links from unsolicited communications, and recommends contacting legitimate sources independently if you cannot verify an organization's authenticity.

The Better Business Bureau warns that disaster relief efforts following Hurricanes Milton and Helen have created opportunities for scammers to exploit people's desire to help hurricane victims in Florida and the Southeast. Donors are advised to follow best practices when giving to relief organizations, such as verifying legitimacy, as scammers often capitalize on charitable giving during disaster recovery periods.

Following Hurricane Milton in Florida, scammers are targeting homeowners seeking repairs for hurricane damage, particularly tree removal and home restoration services. A legitimate tree service company advises residents to carefully vet contractors before hiring them for cleanup and repair work to avoid being defrauded during the post-disaster recovery period.

A 74-year-old woman from Frisco was scammed out of $600,000 by 56-year-old Jeffrey Monahan Jr., who impersonated Elon Musk and befriended her on Facebook in 2023, promising a $55 million return on investment in Musk's business ventures. Monahan has been charged with Grand Theft, and financial records showed the funds were directed to his painting business; he claimed his online girlfriend was the mastermind behind the scheme.

The FBI Miami issued a holiday season warning about the rise of online scams, which increased 22% between 2022 and 2023, with South Florida's online investment fraud losses jumping from $12 million to $300 million. Elderly individuals are particularly targeted for romance fraud, tech support fraud, and impersonation schemes, with AI increasingly used to facilitate scams; charity fraud also peaks during the holidays. The agency advises consumers to be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, as billions of dollars are lost annually to fraud schemes nationwide.

This article is not relevant to elder fraud research. It reports on Florida's House Bill 3, which requires age verification (uploading a photo ID) for adult content websites to protect minors, effective January 1, 2025. PornHub is blocking Florida residents' access rather than comply with the ID verification requirement. **Note:** This piece concerns internet regulation and minors' online safety, not elder fraud, abuse, or scams targeting seniors.

Florida's House Bill 3, effective January 1, 2025, requires adult content websites to verify users are 18 or older through ID verification methods to protect minors online. PornHub announced it will block access for Florida residents rather than comply with the ID photo upload requirement, citing disagreement with the state's specific verification approach.

Scammers across the country, including South Florida, are sending sophisticated phishing text messages and emails claiming recipients owe unpaid tolls (often for amounts like $35) and directing them to click links to pay. Experts warn these messages are designed to look legitimate and, if clicked, can allow scammers to steal credit card details, passwords, and device access, with the FBI having received thousands of reports about these resurfacing toll road scams.

Authorities in Martin County, Florida are reporting a rising scam targeting elderly residents, in which scammers pose as tech support by displaying fake McAfee virus alerts and convincing victims to grant remote computer access. The scammers then manipulate victims into withdrawing cash from their banks under the false pretense of account security testing, with two known victims losing a combined $57,000 ($40,000 and $17,000 respectively) before couriers collected the cash. Law enforcement advises families to check with elderly loved ones about recent cash withdrawals or money transfers to help identify and investigate cases.

Fraudulent text messages impersonating SunPass have resurfaced in South Florida, claiming recipients owe toll payments and threatening legal action, with fake account balances included. These phishing scams attempt to steal personal information like driver's license numbers for identity theft, with hundreds of residents in Martin and Saint Lucie counties reporting receipt of the fraudulent texts. Authorities advise recipients to delete messages without clicking links and contact SunPass directly, while Americans lost over $2 million to similar imposter scams in the previous year.

A suspect named Shanah Baptist was extradited to Florida after defrauding an 85-year-old woman of $32,000 in a fake sweepstakes scam in June. Baptist and accomplices, including Neelon Brooks, were part of a multi-state fraud ring targeting seniors in Volusia County, with the sheriff emphasizing this represents a growing problem in the community. Baptist denied wrongdoing upon her arrest at Daytona Beach Airport.

An 85-year-old Florida woman was scammed out of $32,000 after receiving a call from someone impersonating a Publishers Clearing House representative who claimed she had won $1 million; the scammer convinced her she needed to pay taxes upfront to claim the prize. One of the alleged scammers, Shenia Baptist, was extradited to Volusia County and arrested, with the local sheriff personally greeting the victim to demonstrate law enforcement's commitment to protecting seniors from fraud.

Florida residents, particularly seniors, are experiencing widespread scam calls and text messages, including toll balance fraud and unsolicited calls from unknown numbers. According to board-certified elder law attorney Jana McConna, vulnerable seniors—especially those who are isolated, lonely, recently widowed, or experiencing memory issues—are actively being targeted, with scammers exploiting emotional vulnerability and cognitive decline to financially manipulate victims. McConna emphasizes that isolation and loneliness are key risk factors that make seniors susceptible to fraud schemes.

Seminal County Sheriff's Office in Florida reported a surge in sophisticated scams targeting residents, with one victim, Shirley, receiving multiple fraudulent letters impersonating FedEx and a company called Investment Specialist Incorporated, with bills escalating from $68 to thousands of dollars. Law enforcement noted an increase in scam-related crimes since 2020, as criminals increasingly favor scams over other crimes due to lower risk of identification and arrest. Authorities advise consumers to verify suspicious messages before responding, as scammers often use urgency and official-looking documentation to deceive victims.

An FBI report released in 2024 found that Americans lost $16.6 billion to scams, a 33% increase from 2023, with seniors particularly vulnerable and losing nearly $5 billion of that total. The FBI receives an average of 836,000 cyber fraud reports annually, with victims losing at least $20,000 on average, and California, Texas, and Florida experiencing the highest scam losses.

A South Florida woman was scammed by a fraudster posing as realtor "Louisa Shakon" on Craigslist and Zillow, who lured her with an unrealistically cheap $850/month studio apartment listing in Fort Lauderdale. The victim, Fatima Hopkins, sent over $1,600 in cash transfers via Zelle after being instructed to pay various "holding" and deposit fees, never meeting the scammer in person. The scam also victimized legitimate local realtors whose identities and listings were being impersonated to conduct the fraud.

Two New York City women paid $3,000 each in 2024 for a cosmetics training course offered by Florida-based influencer "Melanie" through her company The Luxury Inc. Show, but were subsequently ghosted with no course delivery, communication, or refunds. Both victims filed police reports in Miami after months of contact attempts went unanswered, losing a combined $6,000 to what appears to be a course scam promoted through the influencer's social media posts.

A widow named Kathy Stevens (pseudonym) lost $500,000 to a romance scam after meeting a man on a dating app who claimed to be an Italian-Australian scuba diver and oil rig worker with properties in Florida and Wisconsin. Over the course of their online relationship, the scammer built trust through daily conversations and a video call before requesting money, exploiting Stevens's loneliness following her husband's death. The case illustrates the vulnerability of grieving seniors to romance fraud schemes that use fabricated personas and emotional manipulation.

Federal authorities warned of a 43% increase in elder fraud victim losses nationwide, with Florida ranking third in both losses and victims. FBI Miami highlighted rising impersonation fraud schemes—including immigration-related scams—that target seniors through phone calls and text messages, exploiting their politeness, desire for companionship, and lower technological literacy.

Two sushi restaurant owners in Brevard County, Florida were accused of running a tech support scam that victimized elderly people across the country, with victims tricked into purchasing gift cards and wiring money after receiving fake computer warning messages. The investigation, which began in Wisconsin in 2023, resulted in the couple's arrest in late June, with one documented victim being a 76-year-old man who lost $14,300 (through $4,300 in gift cards and a $10,000 wire transfer to California).

Active duty military members in Florida reported 50% higher losses to scammers in 2024 compared to other Americans, affecting approximately 62,000 service members in the state. Scammers primarily target military consumers through online purchases, fake job postings, cryptocurrency investments, home improvements, and vacation deals, exploiting vulnerabilities created by frequent relocations and deployments. Protective measures include avoiding unsolicited links and attachments, being skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, and using secure payment methods while avoiding cryptocurrency transfers.

Two women in Florida—one from Marion County and another from Hillsborough County—lost $40,000 and $170,000 respectively in a romance scam using AI-generated images and voice of actor Keanu Reeves. The scammers contacted the victims through word games on their phones, built romantic connections, then used deepfake videos and AI-generated voice calls impersonating Reeves to convince them to send money via Bitcoin to accounts in Nigeria, citing reasons like divorce or cancer research. Experts advise never sending money to unknown individuals without verifying their true identity, as victims have extremely low chances of recovering their funds.

A Cape Coral man fell victim to a text message scam impersonating the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, claiming he owed $6.69 for a toll violation with threats of license revocation. In Florida alone, there have been over 12,000 reports of government impostor scams in the current year totaling more than $26 million in losses. Experts advise verifying communications directly with government agencies through official contact information and never clicking links or providing financial information in unsolicited messages.

A 70-year-old former police officer and firefighter from Port Richie, Florida lost $47,000 in an AI-generated romance scam after developing an online relationship with a woman named "Bonnie" who claimed to need money for an overseas job. The scammer, traced to Nigeria, used AI-generated images and extracted funds through wire transfers and Bitcoin before the victim discovered the deception. The victim now faces an additional $22,000 debt demand from his bank and warns others about the dangers of romance scams, particularly for lonely individuals seeking connection.

**Summary:** A central Florida woman's elderly mother lost approximately $600,000 in a romance scam that began on social media, where a scammer impersonated Elon Musk and convinced her she was engaged and investing money with him. The victim made large wire transfers exceeding $100,000 and daily $3,000 ATM withdrawals for gift cards before her daughter discovered the fraud in early 2023. The FTC reported $1.3 billion in romance scam losses nationally in 2022, with experts noting such scams disproportionately target older, divorced women seeking companionship.

In 2023, Florida ranked fifth nationally for fraud losses, with residents losing $451.8 million across 288,263 fraud reports—an average of $1,567 per report and representing a 5.2% increase from 2022. Nationwide, consumers filed 1.8 million fraud reports in the first nine months of 2023, totaling $7 billion in losses, with investment-related fraud and imposter scams being among the most reported fraud types, and social media scams causing $1 billion in losses.

A federal grand jury indicted two Jamaica-based individuals, Monique C. Clarke (28) and Jon-Michael Hudson (33), for conspiracy to commit money laundering in a lottery scam that defrauded 51 elderly victims of more than $6.6 million between October 2020 and January 2021. The scheme involved callers falsely claiming victims had won lottery prizes and requesting upfront payments for fees; funds were then funneled through "money mules" who deposited checks and sent cash to the defendants, with Clarke personally receiving over $500,000 and using proceeds to purchase a luxury Mercedes-Benz. Both defendants face up to

Latron Earl Williams, 24, of Miami was arrested and indicted on February 21 on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft after fraudulently obtaining personal information from approximately 50 bank account holders nationwide between April 2022 and March 2023. Using stolen identifiable information, debit card numbers, and bank account details, Williams illegally accessed victims' accounts and orchestrated over $2 million in fraudulent wire transfers into accounts he controlled, with accomplices withdrawing the funds to conceal his involvement. If convicted, Williams faces up to 30 years in prison per bank fraud count, plus a mandatory minimum two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft

A Florida couple, Monique C. Clarke and Jon-Michael Hudson, were indicted for operating a lottery scam that defrauded 51 elderly victims of over $6.6 million between October 2020 and January 2021. The scheme involved calling victims claiming they won lottery prizes, then pressuring them to pay upfront fees for taxes and shipping, with money mules depositing the victims' checks and forwarding cash to the conspirators; Clarke allegedly received over $500,000 and used part of it to purchase a Mercedes-Benz in Jamaica. Both defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

A Central Florida woman lost approximately $600,000 of her life savings to a romance scam in which a scammer impersonated Elon Musk, convincing her she was in a relationship and investing money with him through wire transfers, ATM withdrawals, and gift card purchases. The victim's daughter brought the story to light to raise awareness, noting that romance scams targeting older, divorced women are underreported; the FTC documented $1.3 billion in romance scam losses nationally in 2022, though experts believe actual losses are significantly higher. Victims are advised to report such scams immediately to the FBI, FTC, and the relevant social media platform.

The Federal Trade Commission's 2023 databook reveals that Florida experienced significant fraud activity across multiple metropolitan areas, with Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach reporting the highest number of cases at over 108,000 reports, followed by Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater with 51,074 cases. Imposter scams were the most common fraud type statewide, though online shopping and negative review scams were close behind, with Sebastian-Vero Beach showing the highest fraud rate per capita at 2,268 cases per 100,000 people.

Shawn Thompson, a Fort Lauderdale-based moving company operator, faces 38 complaints under active review by the Florida Attorney General for an extortion scheme involving moving services. Thompson's companies allegedly added unauthorized charges to binding estimates and held customers' possessions hostage until inflated amounts were paid, with customers reporting damaged or ruined belongings upon retrieval. A Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge ruled in January 2024 that Thompson engaged in an "unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent scheme" and ordered him to pay a customer $3,243 in fraudulent charges plus additional penalties.

In 2022, Florida residents lost over $53 million to romance scams conducted on dating and social media platforms, prompting an FBI warning about the dangers of these schemes. The perpetrators are sophisticated fraudsters who pose as sincere and trustworthy individuals to manipulate victims emotionally before exploiting them financially. The FBI cautioned the public to be aware of these deceptive practices on online dating platforms.

Steven Lukens, CEO of Gulf Atlantic International Supply, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for submitting substandard materials and 191 forged quality control documents to a NASA contractor for the Space Launch System at Kennedy Space Center. Lukens defrauded the contractor of $271,024.35 through fraudulent Certificates of Compliance, Pressure Testing Certificates, and test reports, and faces up to 20 years in federal prison with forfeiture of the fraudulent proceeds.

Congressman Gus Bilirakis organized two public forums in Florida that attracted over 600 seniors to address scams targeting elderly people, advances in medical technology for age-related diseases, and community resources for independent living. The forums featured presentations from federal agencies including the FTC, FCC, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on fraud prevention, along with medical experts and local service providers discussing health conditions, insurance counseling, and daily living support services.

Launch Credit Union's Fraud Manager provided educational guidance on current fraud trends and protective measures for consumers. Key advice includes recognizing spoofed calls impersonating legitimate organizations, never sharing digital banking credentials or personal information with unsolicited callers, refusing remote access requests, and remaining skeptical of phishing emails and AI-generated scam communications, with particular emphasis on educating seniors about fraud risks including romance scams and unsolicited offers.

A Fayetteville woman lost $23,000 in a vehicle purchase scam after sending money to someone claiming to sell an SUV that was never delivered. The victim, Kay Munson, reported the fraud involving both a Fayetteville and Florida woman in connection with the scheme.

An 82-year-old man in Walton County, Florida was defrauded of nearly $20,000 in February after scammers posing as Publishers Clearing House representatives convinced him he had won millions in prizes and then demanded prepayment of taxes to an "IRS agent." Terrence Owens, 38, of Orlando, was arrested after law enforcement set up a sting operation at a McDonald's parking lot where he attempted to collect an additional $30,000 payment; he faces charges including grand theft, impersonating a federal agent, exploiting the elderly, and scheme to defraud.

Two men from Florida and New York—Jason Rhodes, 34, and Robert Munoz, 29—were arrested in Warwick, Rhode Island in connection with a "grandparent scam" targeting elderly residents in Warwick and Coventry after police executed a controlled money delivery on March 8, 2024. During a search of a hotel room, detectives seized evidence linking the suspects to multiple grandparent scams and a large sum of cash, with the investigation ongoing. Warwick Police are urging other potential victims throughout Rhode Island to report similar scams to their local police departments.

Americans lost a record $10 billion to scams and fraud in 2023, a 14% increase from 2022, with investment scams causing the largest losses at $4.6 billion followed by imposter scams at $2.7 billion, according to FTC data from 2.6 million consumer complaints. Fraudsters increasingly used cryptocurrency and bank transfers, while imposter schemes targeting vulnerable populations through government and business impersonation saw significant growth, with Florida ranking among the top states for per capita fraud complaints at 1,563 per 100,000 residents.

Two suspects were arrested in Moorpark, California on March 7, 2024, for identity theft and conspiracy charges after intercepting packages containing significant sums of cash mailed by elderly victims from Texas, South Dakota, and Florida who had fallen victim to scams. Detectives identified the scheme after the first victim's adult child reported their elderly mother had mailed currency to the suspects' address, leading investigators to surveil and apprehend the two men when they arrived to retrieve a third package from a Florida victim. The suspects face multiple felony charges including grand theft, conspiracy, theft by false pretenses, and identity theft from an elder or dependent adult.