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A 45-year-old man named Kenneth Akpieyi from Georgia was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for defrauding more than two dozen women out of over $9 million through an elaborate romance scam. Operating primarily on Facebook and Instagram, Akpieyi posed as military officers, oil rig workers, and other professionals to build trust with vulnerable elderly widows before convincing them to send large sums of money, which he then laundered and spent. To protect yourself, be cautious of online romantic interests who ask to move conversations to private messaging apps, avoid sending money to people you've only met online, and verify the identities of military personnel or professionals through official channels before trusting them with financial information.

A fraud case on Tybee Island, Georgia has resulted in one suspect surrendering to police while another remains at large; the scheme targeted two elderly victims and resulted in the theft of tens of thousands of dollars. The remaining suspect, Ami Renee Zampi, is wanted for felony theft and financial exploitation of vulnerable elderly people. Anyone with information about Zampi's whereabouts is urged to contact Tybee Police Detective Armando Villegas at (912)786-5600.

I'm unable to provide a summary of this article because the text provided only contains subscription information and promotional content for Law360, not the actual article about the Georgia adviser's SEC settlement. To summarize the fraud case, I would need access to the full article content that describes what happened, who was involved, and the details of the $13 million settlement.

# Fraud Summary A Georgia investment adviser, Ejiro Ode Okuma, agreed to pay over $13 million to settle SEC charges that he stole nearly $10 million from an elderly 81-year-old client between 2022 and 2025 by fraudulently transferring securities and redirecting funds meant for other purposes into his own accounts. The victim, who had health challenges and relied on Okuma for financial management and daily living assistance, was exploited through schemes including a $500,000 check that was rerouted and the creation of unauthorized accounts, with Okuma using the stolen funds for personal expenses like a luxury home and vehicles. People should be cautious about granting financial power of attorney to a single adviser, especially when they have limited oversight capacity, and should regularly monitor account statements and seek second opinions on major financial transactions.

California has revoked over 280 fraudulent hospice licenses in the past two years as part of a crackdown on schemes where operators enrolled Medicare patients in hospice care without their knowledge or proper services, potentially costing billions in taxpayer money. The fraud affected vulnerable elderly patients across multiple states including Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Georgia, and Ohio, with some operators using illegal tactics like "license flipping" to avoid regulatory oversight. Patients and their families should verify hospice provider legitimacy through state licensing boards and Medicare's official resources, and report suspicious enrollment or lack of services to federal authorities immediately.

Scammers in Georgia are impersonating prosecutors and law enforcement officers to trick people into revealing sensitive financial information or making payments, using tactics like caller ID spoofing and fake badge numbers to appear legitimate. The victims are everyday residents who receive threatening calls, texts, or emails falsely claiming they're suspects in investigations or victims of fraud. If you receive such a contact, do not provide any personal or financial information and report it immediately to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

# Scams Rising Across the U.S. Americans receive approximately 2.5 million scam and robocalls monthly, with scammers increasingly impersonating law enforcement to threaten arrest or demand payment via gift cards and wire transfers. In the Augusta area alone, ten of 22 counties have reported rising scam activity since November, including impersonations of local agencies like North Augusta Public Safety and major companies like Amazon and Georgia Power. To protect yourself, never provide personal information or payment to callers claiming to be law enforcement, verify suspicious calls by contacting the agency directly, and register your phone number on the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call list to reduce scam call volume.

Two Florida residents have been indicted for stealing over $200,000 from a 75-year-old Georgia woman through a phone spoofing scam that impersonated her bank and tricked her into revealing a security code. The suspects, who operated remotely from Miami, used fake Bank of America messages to gain access to her account and made numerous withdrawals, though investigators recovered about half the stolen funds. To protect yourself, never provide security codes or personal information to unsolicited callers or messages—legitimate banks will never ask for these codes—and be suspicious of any unexpected contact about account fraud.

A 48-year-old Georgia woman, Angela Kay Burnette, was arrested for using a 71-year-old victim's bank card without permission, causing the elderly woman both financial hardship and emotional distress. The victim struggled to pay for essentials as a result of the fraud, and Burnette now faces charges including identity fraud and exploitation of the elderly. Elderly individuals should protect their bank cards, monitor account activity regularly, and consider designating a trusted family member or attorney to help oversee finances to prevent similar exploitation.

Georgia's Secretary of State's Office has launched efforts to protect residents from holiday scams, particularly through the SPEAR Act program targeting seniors, but evidence suggests younger adults may actually be more vulnerable to scams than older Georgians despite their presumed tech-savviness. Common holiday scams include gift card fraud and compromised charity emails where scammers impersonate legitimate organizations. The article advises consumers to research before donating and highlights that scammers remain active year-round, suggesting people of all ages need protection and awareness regardless of their technological skills.

Georgia has launched a new law called the SPEAR Act that allows investment firms to pause transactions they suspect are fraudulent and alert state investigators, helping protect seniors during the holiday season when scams peak. So far this year, 720 seniors have been protected through this tool, including one victim who nearly lost $280,000 to a scammer posing as a federal agent. If you're a senior or helping one manage finances, be cautious of unsolicited requests from "officials," verify requests through official channels before transferring money, and report suspicious activity to your investment firm immediately.

Georgia's holiday season is seeing a surge in scams targeting seniors, with 720 victims reported so far in 2025 through a new state law called the SPEAR Act that allows investment firms to pause suspicious transactions for up to seven days while authorities investigate. One victim lost $280,000 after being deceived by a scammer posing as a federal agent, illustrating the serious financial harm these schemes can cause. Seniors should be cautious of unsolicited contact from people claiming to be government officials requesting money transfers, and can benefit from knowing that financial institutions now have tools to catch and investigate suspicious activity on their accounts.

Georgia's Secretary of State reports that holiday scams remain widespread, with 1,140 cases of senior exploitation reported since the SPEAR Act took effect, including 81 victims in November 2025 alone. Common scams targeting holiday shoppers and donors include gift card fraud, impersonation scams posing as family members requesting money, fake online shopping sites that don't deliver goods, and document fraud. Consumers are urged to stay vigilant by verifying requests for money or gift cards through direct contact, shopping only on secure websites, and reporting suspected fraud to authorities.

Georgia ranks 7th nationally for senior fraud losses, with older residents losing an estimated $1.57 million per 100,000 people in 2024, while seniors across the U.S. reported $4.8 billion in fraud losses total. The most common scams targeting older adults include imposter scams, shopping fraud, and high-stakes crypto and romance schemes, with individual crypto and romance fraud cases averaging over $108,000 in losses. Experts recommend families discuss scams with elderly relatives, watch for pressure tactics and unusual payment requests, and report suspicious activity to protect the state's 1.7 million residents over 60.

Buster Skrine, a former NFL cornerback, was arrested in Roswell, Georgia on Wednesday and faces 18 counts of financial fraud related to a romance scam in which he allegedly defrauded women he met on dating platforms of hundreds of thousands of dollars by leveraging his professional reputation and fabricating false promises of relationships and financial assistance. Skrine, who had been a fugitive from Canadian authorities for over a year on check fraud charges, typically used fake stories about needing money for travel, business ventures, or personal emergencies to solicit funds from victims through dating apps like Bumble and Hinge. Police identified at least three victims who lost a combined $300,000

**Bank Spoofing Scam – Texas Woman Convicted** Audrey Michelle Townsend was convicted of spoofing JPMorgan Chase and fraudulently transferring $49,000 from a Georgia elderly couple's account in February 2024. The victim, Gloria Moss, received a fake text appearing to be from the bank, called the provided number, and unknowingly shared account verification codes with the scammer, enabling the unauthorized transfer to Townsend's Texas bank account. JPMorgan Chase initially refused reimbursement but reversed course after media attention and law enforcement investigation, ultimately refunding the full amount; Townsend received a

Georgia prison inmates, including an imprisoned rapper, were sentenced in Ohio for operating a phone scam from behind bars that impersonated law enforcement officers and targeted registered sex offenders nationwide, netting thousands of dollars before being uncovered by Ohio investigators. Marquis Conner received four years in prison and ordered to pay $9,400 in restitution; co-defendants Emmitt Wells and Johnathan Ford each received three years, while Julissa Casanas was placed on community control for processing payments. The scheme involved contraband cellphones in Georgia prisons and represents part of a larger pattern of fraud within the state's correctional system.

A 20-year-old man was arrested in Chatham County, Georgia, in connection with a fraud scheme that defrauded an elderly victim of over $500,000. The scam involved impersonating a bank representative over the phone, claiming the victim's account was hacked, and convincing them to transfer money and precious metals; the suspect was arrested on August 14, 2025, when he arrived at the victim's home to collect additional precious metals. Police believe there may be additional victims and urge the public to avoid providing financial information over the phone and to verify caller identity by contacting their bank directly.

Romance scams cost victims over £106 million in 2024 in the UK alone, with fraudsters increasingly using AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic identities to impersonate celebrities and trusted individuals, as demonstrated by a case where a French woman lost €830,000 to fake Brad Pitt impersonators. Beyond romance fraud, these same tactics are being deployed in investment scams, phishing attacks, and social engineering schemes, with investment scam losses reaching £144.4 million in 2024 and one Georgian network defrauding victims across multiple countries of $35 million using deepfake videos of money expert Martin Lewis.

Fulton County, Georgia launched the Avoid Cyber Threats (A.C.T) Training campaign, a free self-paced program for residents 55 and older to help recognize and prevent online scams. The initiative responds to a surge in senior fraud cases—seniors account for nearly 40% of all fraud-related losses, and Americans 60+ lost $4.9 billion to scammers in 2024, with the average victim losing $83,000. The program covers phishing scams, personal information safeguarding, and emerging threats like AI voice cloning, with a county goal of training 2,000 seniors and caregivers by year's end.

Fulton County Department of Senior Services launched Avoid Cyber Threats (A.C.T.), a free online training program in August targeting residents aged 55 and older to help them recognize and avoid cyber scams including phishing, voice cloning, and impersonation schemes. The initiative responds to a 60 percent rise in scams targeting seniors over five years, with Americans aged 60+ losing nearly $4.9 billion to fraud in 2024 and Georgia ranking seventh nationally for senior fraud losses; the program aims to train 2,000 seniors by December, with research showing trained seniors are 80 percent more likely to recognize and avoid scams.

Kenneth G. Akpieyi, a Georgia man, was convicted on federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded eight victims of over $3 million. Operating across social media platforms, Akpieyi and his co-conspirators posed as military officers and entrepreneurs to build emotional relationships with victims—predominantly women—before fabricating financial emergencies to extract money, which was then routed through his business accounts to avoid detection. The case underscores the serious threat romance scams pose to older adults and highlights key warning signs including rapid declarations of love, requests for money via untraceable methods, and pressure to move conversations to

Kenneth Akpieyi, a 44-year-old from Marietta, Georgia, was convicted of operating romance scams that defrauded at least eight women of over $3 million. The scheme involved posing as wealthy figures on social media, building romantic relationships with victims, and requesting money under false pretenses, with funds routed through his auto brokerage company and sent to accounts internationally. Akpieyi faces decades in prison and substantial fines upon sentencing in November 2025.

Kenneth G. Akpieyi, a 44-year-old from Georgia, was convicted of operating a multi-million-dollar online romance scam targeting women globally through fake identities on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. He and his international fraud network defrauded victims of over $3 million by posing as military officers, businessmen, and philanthropists, then laundering the money through multiple U.S. bank accounts and overseas accounts in China and the UAE. Akpieyi faces up to 20 years in prison per count and financial penalties between $250,000 and $500,000.

Emmanuel Ugbaja, a 56-year-old Georgia man, was sentenced to 5 years probation with 2 years home confinement for money laundering in connection with internet scams that defrauded two victims of $60,000 in 2018—one through a romance scam and one through an inheritance scam. Ugbaja received the fraudulent funds into his bank account, kept a portion for himself, and sent the remainder to a maritime broker as a vessel down payment. In addition to probation, he was ordered to pay over $97,000 in restitution to the fraud victims and over $135,000 to the Small Business Administration

Kenneth G. Akpieyi, 44, from Georgia, was convicted in July 2025 on charges of mail fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering for operating a "fake Romeo" romance scam that defrauded multiple women of over $3 million. Operating under the alias "Phillip Anderson," Akpieyi used social media platforms to build fake romantic relationships with victims, then convinced them to send money for fabricated reasons such as charitable work or family emergencies, funneling the funds through his auto brokerage company to obscure their movement. Eight victims testified during trial, with sentencing scheduled for November 2025.

An 83-year-old Peach County, Georgia man nearly lost $20,000 in cash after scammers posing as Bank of America convinced him he was involved in a money laundering investigation and instructed him to mail the funds to Miami. His son Keith intercepted the package through connections with law enforcement before it could be delivered on Monday, recovering the money safely. The incident highlights the prevalence of elder fraud, with the FBI reporting millions of seniors fall victim annually, losing an estimated $3 billion, and elder fraud complaints rising 14% as of 2023.

Scammers in Albany, Georgia are spoofing Phoebe Hospital's phone number and impersonating hospital employees to trick people into disclosing personal information such as Social Security numbers and financial details. Phoebe officials clarified that the hospital does not make unsolicited calls to random community members and warned the public to hang up on suspicious callers requesting sensitive information and report them to local law enforcement.

Roman Storm, co-founder of the Tornado Cash crypto mixing service, is on trial in Manhattan federal court for allegedly laundering over $1 billion, including funds linked to North Korean hackers. Testimony from a 23-year-old convicted NFT scammer revealed how he used Tornado Cash to hide more than $1 million in stolen cryptocurrency from the Frosties NFT rug pull, and victims' testimony showed the service ignored requests to freeze stolen funds, including $150,000 from a Georgia woman's life savings and $196 million stolen from crypto exchange BitMart. Storm faces over 40 years in prison if convicted, though his defense argues Tornado Cash is simply

A 36-year-old Canadian man, Jia Liu, was arrested on July 2 at Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport for defrauding elderly people across multiple states. Liu targeted an elderly man in Charlestown who withdrew $27,000 from his retirement account in May, and investigators linked him to at least five additional victims in Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, and Tennessee, with total losses exceeding $309,000. Liu faces charges including theft, fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, and authorities are seeking additional victims who may be in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

Pradip Parikh, 67, and Alpesh Patel, 40, were convicted of operating an India-based call center scam that defrauded elderly Americans out of millions of dollars by impersonating Social Security Administration officials and convincing victims their Social Security numbers had been compromised. Victims, including a 70-year-old who lost $600,000 and a widowed mother of eight who lost over $300,000, were directed to transfer funds to bank accounts controlled by the defendants, who then laundered the money. Parikh was convicted of money laundering conspiracy and two substantive money laundering counts, while Patel was convicted on all charges

A Georgia woman named Dorothy lost $30,000 to a "task scam" after responding to a text message offering remote work; the scammers built trust by making initial legitimate payments, then demanded increasingly larger amounts of money under the guise of corrective fees before disappearing. The scam involved fraudulent company credentials, and Dorothy paid via PayPal, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency. The FTC warns that task scams are increasingly common, typically luring victims with unsolicited texts promising remote work in "app optimization" or "product boosting," gaining trust through small initial payments, then requesting larger investments to continue.

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted introduced bipartisan legislation called "The Preventing Deep Fake Scams Act" to establish a task force that will examine how financial institutions can use AI to protect against fraud, particularly deep fake scams where fraudsters impersonate family members to steal money. According to Federal Trade Commission data, fraudsters stole over $12.5 billion from consumers in 2024—a 25% increase from 2023—with an AARP study finding that 77% of older adults worry they may become targets of AI-related fraud. The bill, endorsed by AARP and co-sponsored by Georgia Democrat Raphael Warnock, would require the

Two men, Pradip Parikh (67) and Al-Pesh Patel (40), were arrested and charged for operating an international government-imposter telephone scam that defrauded at least 20 victims across the United States, including elderly victims who lost over $600,000. The scammers impersonated federal officials, threatening victims with arrest and asset seizure to coerce them into transferring money to accounts under the defendants' control. Both men await sentencing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

The U.S. Justice Department announced increased prosecution efforts against elder fraud schemes, which cost victims billions of dollars annually and often deplete life savings. The Northern District of Georgia has prosecuted multiple cases including an Indian call center scam where perpetrators impersonated government officials to fraudulently obtain funds, resulting in convictions and money laundering charges against Pradip Parikh, Alpesh Patel, and others. The Justice Department employs a two-pronged approach combining criminal prosecution with community outreach and education about common elder fraud schemes including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandparent scams.

This article identifies five prevalent scams currently targeting consumers: AI voice cloning (where scammers impersonate trusted individuals to request money, exemplified by a victim who lost $25,000), fake bank account freezes (one victim lost over $300,000), cryptocurrency investment schemes promoted through social media (a Georgia couple lost $800,000), gold bar scams impersonating law enforcement or banks (a 72-year-old lost $3.1 million), and pet emergency scams. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, emphasizing verification through direct contact, avoiding unsolicited links, skepticism of social media strangers, awareness that legitimate authorities don't request asset conversion

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced increased efforts to combat elder fraud schemes—including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud, and grandpament scams—that cost victims billions of dollars and deplete life savings. The office employs a two-pronged approach: prosecuting domestic and foreign criminals involved in elder fraud and money laundering, and conducting outreach to law enforcement and community groups on prevention and detection. The National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311) provides free support to seniors age 60 and older who have experienced financial fraud, offering victim assessment, reporting assistance,

This article announces the opening of AtWork West Gwinnett, a staffing franchise location in Duluth, Georgia, owned by Wendy Smith and her husband Jeremy. The piece is not related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse—it is a business announcement about a job placement staffing company and does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database.

Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to address a widespread text message scam targeting Minnesotans, in which fake DMV messages claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threaten arrest to coerce online payments. The scam has been reported across multiple states including Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, and Smith has requested intervention from the Department of Justice to combat the scheme's scale and sophistication.

Thousands of Minnesotans received fraudulent text messages impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles, threatening legal consequences and demanding payment for fictitious traffic violations. This scam, which has also affected residents in Georgia, New York, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, and Colorado, puts victims at financial risk and creates anxiety about message authenticity. Senator Tina Smith is urging the Trump Administration to take action against the widespread scheme.

A retired Georgia couple lost nearly $800,000 in a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam after a stranger contacted Jerry Dunaway on WhatsApp and directed him to a fraudulent trading app that displayed fake returns through an AI-generated "ghost site." The scammers built trust by allowing small initial withdrawals before preventing access to the account, leaving the couple financially devastated and unlikely to recover their funds according to police investigators.

State Departments of Transportation in Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin issued warnings about phishing text scams impersonating state agencies and demanding payment for unpaid tolls or traffic violations, with threats of legal action. The scams have already targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York, and are becoming more sophisticated by using fear tactics to trick victims into clicking malicious links or sharing personal information. State agencies advise recipients to ignore urgency demands, avoid clicking links or sharing information, block senders, and report scams to the FTC or Internet Crime Complaint Center.

DMV text message scams, known as "smishing," are expanding across multiple states including Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, California, Michigan, and North Carolina, with earlier warnings issued in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. These fraudulent texts falsely claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets or outstanding bills and threaten consequences like vehicle registration loss, driving privilege suspension, or credit score damage unless they click a link and pay. The Federal Trade Commission advises recipients not to click links or respond, instead contacting their state DMV directly through official channels and reporting the messages to their wireless provider, the FTC, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

A text message scam is targeting Georgia drivers, with fraudulent messages falsely claiming to be from the "Georgia State Department of Motor Vehicles" and demanding gift card or cryptocurrency payments for alleged outstanding traffic tickets under threat of license suspension. Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman warns that legitimate traffic ticket payments are only accepted as cash, cashier's checks, or money orders to the court clerk, and advises recipients to avoid clicking links or calling numbers in suspicious messages, instead contacting their local law enforcement or checking the Georgia Department of Driver Services website directly.

Scammers in Wisconsin are impersonating the Wisconsin Department of Transportation DMV by sending text messages claiming unpaid traffic violations or final notices, attempting to trick recipients into revealing personal information or clicking malicious links. The Wisconsin DMV received a large volume of complaints on June 2 and noted similar scams had recently targeted Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. The DMV advises residents not to respond to unsolicited texts, avoid clicking links, and warns to be suspicious of communications requesting money or creating urgency.

Christie Edwards, a 47-year-old bookkeeper at a Glynn County accounting firm, was indicted for stealing over $380,000 from an elderly client through fraudulent ATM withdrawals, point-of-sale transactions, checks, and credit card payments. The case highlights the vulnerability of seniors to financial exploitation by trusted individuals with access to their accounts, and Georgia's Attorney General urged families to establish oversight systems and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Christie Edwards, a 47-year-old Florida bookkeeper, was indicted in Glynn County, Georgia on charges of Racketeering and Theft by Taking for allegedly stealing over $380,000 from an elderly client through fraudulent ATM withdrawals, point-of-sale transactions, checks, and credit card payments while employed at a local accounting firm. The case was investigated by the Attorney General's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit and highlights the vulnerability of seniors to financial exploitation by trusted individuals with direct access to their finances.

During May 2025's Older Americans Month, Georgia's Attorney General Consumer Protection Division reached over 1,300 seniors to educate them on recognizing, preventing, and reporting financial abuse and exploitation. The division highlighted common scams targeting older adults—including government imposter schemes, investment/cryptocurrency fraud, and romance scams—and provided resources such as their free "Georgia Consumer Protection Guide for Older Adults" (available in English, Spanish, and Korean) along with reporting contacts for suspected financial abuse.

Scammers are targeting Georgia drivers with threatening text messages impersonating the "Georgia State Department of Motor Vehicles," claiming recipients have outstanding traffic tickets that must be paid immediately to avoid license suspension or prosecution, with links leading to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and driver's license information. The Georgia Department of Driver Services clarified that they never contact customers via text to request payment or confidential information, and notes that the "Department of Motor Vehicles" does not exist in Georgia—a key red flag that such messages are fraudulent. Residents are advised to delete such messages immediately and verify ticket or license status through the official DDS website at dds.georgia.gov.

Georgia Department of Driver Services warned residents about a text message scam in which criminals impersonate the nonexistent "Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles" and direct recipients to fraudulent websites to pay fake traffic tickets and surrender driver's license information. DDS emphasized that it never contacts customers via text to request payment or confidential information and instead notifies customers of license changes in writing; residents should delete such messages immediately and verify information through the official DDS website.