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Two individuals, James Card and Tykeria Washington, were arrested after impersonating federal, court, and law enforcement officials to scam an elderly Perry, Georgia resident out of approximately $70,000. The suspects threatened the victim with arrest and coerced her to withdraw cash, purchase cryptocurrency, and transfer funds to other individuals before police located and intervened. Card was charged with theft by extortion, elderly exploitation, and impersonation of an officer, while Washington was charged with elderly exploitation, with the investigation ongoing to identify additional participants.

In 2025, U.S. consumers reported losing nearly $16 billion to fraud and scams—a 25% increase from the previous year—with imposter scams alone accounting for $3.5 billion in losses as criminals increasingly pose as trusted entities through social media, text messages, and phishing emails to manipulate victims into willingly sending money. Georgia's Attorney General argues that addressing scams requires a fundamentally different strategy than traditional fraud, demanding coordinated efforts across government agencies, technology companies, financial institutions, and law enforcement to intervene at multiple stages before victims lose money, rather than focusing only on the final transaction stage.

A suspect connected to a Georgia prison-based scam ring was arrested after a Florida woman lost $15,000 in Bitcoin in the scheme. The scam involved fraudsters operating from within a Georgia prison who targeted victims and convinced them to send cryptocurrency. This case highlights the growing problem of organized fraud operations being run from correctional facilities.

Ogechi Urenna Udunka of Decatur, Georgia was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in laundering $158,000 stolen through a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam targeting an agricultural company. The scam occurred when criminals sent fraudulent emails impersonating an Oregon seed company, tricking the victim into wiring funds that Udunka then received and disbursed to conceal their origin. Udunka was ordered to pay full restitution and perform 200 hours of community service.

A New Jersey social media influencer exposed a sophisticated arrest warrant scam in which callers impersonated Bergen County Sheriff's Office personnel and used personal information to convince victims to pay cash bail to avoid arrest. The scammers used fake arrest warrants, involved multiple callers to appear credible, and redirected victims to federal credit unions instead of the sheriff's office when suspicion arose. Law enforcement estimates the operation has stolen approximately $500,000 over four to five years and believe the scheme may be coordinated by an inmate in Georgia with outside accomplices.

Ogechi Urenna Udunka of Decatur, Georgia pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering for her role in a Business Email Compromise scam that defrauded an agricultural company of $158,000 in June 2021. She received the stolen funds through fraudulent wire transfers and then conducted financial transactions to conceal the money's source before disbursing it to herself and others. Udunka was sentenced to 10 years with 90 days in prison and the remainder on probation, and ordered to pay full restitution and perform 200 hours of community service.

A 20-year-old man in Savannah, Georgia was arrested for using AI to generate a fake Walmart Spark Driver delivery order to steal nearly $1,000 in merchandise from a Walmart store. Police indicated this may be part of a larger fraud scheme involving fake orders across Walmarts nationwide, potentially costing millions of dollars, and noted this was their first encounter with an AI-facilitated theft. The suspect was charged with criminal attempt to commit a misdemeanor, and the FBI has been informed of the incident.

A Georgia woman lost thousands of dollars to a romance scammer she met on the Muslim dating app Muzz after he gained her trust and convinced her to transfer money through multiple platforms to Bitcoin. When she reported the scam to police, she was informed she may have committed a crime herself by acting as a "money mule" by moving the funds across different payment systems. The FBI notes that romance scam victims are particularly vulnerable to unwittingly becoming co-conspirators, and the FTC estimates $1.2 billion is lost annually to these scams with victims losing a median of $2,000.

A Cobb County investor lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to a fake cryptocurrency platform after a scammer gained trust through social media and mutual acquaintances, initially allowing small withdrawals and displaying fake profits to encourage larger deposits. Georgia's Attorney General's office traced the funds to a cryptocurrency exchange and obtained a court order to recover the victim's money, with the scheme matching the "pig butchering" fraud pattern where scammers build trust over time before disappearing. This recovery is part of an increasing trend of crypto scam cases in Georgia, coinciding with new state legislation requiring virtual currency kiosk regulations and fraud protections.

AnMed Health, a nonprofit health system in South Carolina and Georgia, confirmed that cybercriminals stole patient and corporate data in a July cyberattack, with the ransomware gang The Gentlemen claiming to have obtained 6 terabytes of information including mental health, sexual assault, reproductive care, genetic testing, and cancer records. The organization is warning patients to avoid falling victim to follow-up fraud schemes and to report any unexpected communications claiming involvement with AnMed to law enforcement, while it conducts a comprehensive independent review to determine what information was actually compromised.

A Georgia victim of a cryptocurrency investment scam deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars into a fake trading platform after being contacted on social media by a scammer posing as someone with mutual acquaintances. The Georgia Attorney General's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit, working with the GBI and Operation Shamrock, successfully traced and recovered a significant portion of the stolen cryptocurrency through a crypto exchange and secured a court order to return the funds to the victim. The scam operated by building trust through fake social media relationships and displaying false investment returns before ultimately claiming all funds were lost.

Patrick Marquelle Turner, an inmate at a Georgia correctional facility, used a contraband cellphone to impersonate Marion County Sheriff's Office deputies and scam an elderly Florida resident out of $5,600 by falsely claiming the victim had missed jury duty and owed a fine. Turner was extradited to Marion County and charged with grand theft, defrauding a person over 65, money laundering, and impersonating an officer after investigators traced eight cryptocurrency transactions linked to the scheme.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture warned residents about a fraudulent Facebook event promoting a fake "2026 GATE Atlanta Vendor & Artisan Market" scheduled for August 21-23 at the Atlanta State Farmers' Market. The scam was designed to solicit payment and business information from vendors and participants, with authorities issuing a cease-and-desist letter to the alleged organizer. State officials are urging Georgians not to send payment, personal information, or business details to anyone promoting this event.

Johnny Wendell Tarrant, 32, of West Green, was arrested and faces 37 counts after allegedly stealing an elderly family member's debit card, linking it to his personal accounts, and conducting 36 unauthorized transactions totaling approximately $3,095. Tarrant is charged with 36 counts of Financial Transaction Card Fraud and one count of Exploitation of an Elder Person under Georgia law. The case highlights the importance of monitoring bank accounts for suspicious activity, particularly among elderly individuals and their families.

An elderly Georgia couple fell victim to a scam involving a fake pop-up warning claiming their bank account was breached, which led them to deposit cash into a cryptocurrency kiosk following instructions from a fraudster impersonating an FTC official. Law enforcement agencies from Oconee County, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the state Attorney General's office collaborated to trace the stolen cryptocurrency across multiple digital wallets and successfully seized and returned the funds to the victims. The case highlights the vulnerability of older adults to crypto scams and has prompted new state protections requiring cryptocurrency kiosks to display warnings about irreversible transactions.

An elderly Georgia couple fell victim to a crypto scam after a fake pop-up warning claiming their bank account was breached directed them to withdraw cash and deposit it into a cryptocurrency kiosk, with a fraudster impersonating an FTC official guiding them through the process. Law enforcement from the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the state Attorney General's office successfully traced the stolen cryptocurrency through multiple digital wallets and exchanges, then seized and returned the funds to the victims. The case highlights the growing problem of crypto scams targeting seniors and prompted new Georgia legislation requiring cryptocurrency kiosks to display warnings about transaction irreversibility.

Thomas Mwangi, a 48-year-old Georgia businessman, allegedly obtained $24 million in fraudulent bank loans from First Financial Bank by submitting forged brokerage statements and fabricated financial documents, claiming collateral of approximately $22 million when his account actually held less than $1 million. After receiving the funds, he continued submitting false financial statements to the bank and eventually defaulted on the loans, triggering an investigation that led to charges of two counts of bank fraud and 13 counts of wire fraud.

Elderly residents in Oconee County, Georgia recovered stolen cryptocurrency after falling victim to a scam where fraudsters posing as FTC agents used fake bank breach warnings to trick victims into withdrawing cash and depositing it into crypto kiosks while keeping them on the phone. Law enforcement from multiple agencies traced the stolen funds through digital wallets and froze them at a centralized crypto exchange before they could be liquidated, making this recovery unusually successful in a crime category where losses are normally irreversible. The case highlights the effectiveness of new Georgia legislation (House Bill 945) that established daily transaction limits, fee caps, and mandatory refund procedures for crypto kiosk operators, with significant penalties for non-compliance.

Georgia's White Collar and Cyber Crime Unit, working with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office and GBI, successfully seized and returned cryptocurrency to elderly fraud victims who were deceived by scammers impersonating the FTC. The perpetrators used fake computer pop-up alerts claiming bank account breaches to convince an elderly couple to withdraw funds and deposit them into crypto kiosks, instructing them to avoid detection by bank employees. Law enforcement traced the stolen cryptocurrency through multiple wallets and recovered the funds from a crypto exchange wallet, resulting in court-ordered return to the victims.

Scammers are contacting family members and friends of arrested individuals in Richmond County, Georgia, by using publicly available booking information and demanding payment through digital payment platforms like Cash App, PayPal, and Zelle to secure bonds. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office warns that they never request electronic payments for bonds and urges victims to report such contact immediately at 706-821-1080.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's office seized and returned cryptocurrency to elderly fraud victims in Oconee County who were targeted by scammers impersonating the Federal Trade Commission. The perpetrators used fake bank breach alerts to convince an elderly couple to withdraw funds and deposit them into crypto kiosks, then instructed them on how to avoid detection while the funds were transferred through multiple wallets. Law enforcement traced the stolen cryptocurrency and secured a court order to return the funds to the victims.

In 2024, the FTC documented over 6 million fraud and consumer complaints across the United States, with Americans losing a record $15.9 billion to fraud in 2025—a 25% increase from the prior year. Florida, Georgia, and Delaware reported the highest fraud rates per capita, while South Dakota and North Dakota had the lowest, with imposter scams being the most commonly reported fraud type nationwide, accounting for over $3.5 billion in losses. Younger adults report more frequent fraud victimization, though older adults typically lose larger amounts per incident as scammers target their retirement savings.

Scammers are sending fraudulent letters posing as law firms claiming recipients have inherited millions in unclaimed life insurance policies, with the goal of extracting personal financial information or money from victims. One Wisconsin consumer received a letter claiming a $4.9 million "100% risk-free" inheritance and identified it as a scam through red flags including typos, a Georgia postmark despite claiming to be from a Canadian firm, and similar letters found online. Consumers are advised to verify such offers through legitimate channels like professional bar associations before providing any personal or financial information.

Babajide Adesayo, a 41-year-old from Georgia, was convicted on 18 criminal counts for operating a transnational money laundering scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of over $2.7 million through romance scams between April 2020 and September 2021. The fraudsters posed as romantic interests, business partners, or friends to gain victims' trust, then fabricated emergencies to solicit wire transfers, which Adesayo laundered through his automotive business accounts and transferred to overseas locations in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and elsewhere. Adesayo continued receiving and moving stolen funds even after his initial arrest in June 2024 while on bond

A federal jury convicted Georgia man Babajide Adesayo, 41, of money laundering over $2.7 million stolen from elderly victims through romance and online scams between April 2020 and September 2021. Adesayo operated as a "bridge" in a transnational fraud network, receiving stolen funds and transferring them overseas to China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria, including $500,000 from a 67-year-old Concord, New Hampshire woman who believed she was in a romantic relationship with a scammer. He faces 14 to 16 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for November.

Babajide Adesayo, a 41-year-old Nigerian residing in Georgia, was convicted by a federal jury of laundering over $2.7 million obtained from romance scam victims between April 2020 and September 2021. The victims, primarily elderly individuals, were deceived by scammers posing as romantic partners or business associates and tricked into sending money for fabricated reasons such as medical expenses and business equipment. Adesayo faces up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy convictions and up to 10 years for each of 16 transactional money-laundering counts, with sentencing scheduled for November 2026.

Babajide Adesayo, 41, of Georgia, was convicted on August 6, 2026, of laundering $2.7 million stolen from elderly victims through romance scams orchestrated between April 2020 and September 2021. Adesayo operated as a central figure in a transnational network that posed as romantic interests and business partners to defraud victims, then rapidly moved the stolen funds through accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and other countries to prevent recovery. He faces up to 20 years in prison per conspiracy count and was convicted on 18 charges including money laundering offenses.

Babajide Adesayo, a Georgia man, was convicted of laundering $2.7 million stolen from elderly victims through romance and online scams between April 2020 and September 2021. Fraudsters posed as romantic partners or business associates to convince elderly victims to send their retirement savings, which Adesayo then transferred overseas to China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria to prevent recovery. Adesayo continued laundering money even after his indictment and arrest, and now faces up to 20 years in prison per conspiracy charge.

A Georgia man lost over $164,000 in a "pig butchering" scam after meeting a woman on Facebook who cultivated a romantic relationship with him before convincing him to invest in a fake cryptocurrency scheme. The FBI recovered approximately 0.28 Bitcoin (valued at $18,200) and won a civil forfeiture case, though victim reimbursement remains separate from government asset seizure.

Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday is urging passage of Senate Bill 738, which would allow bank employees to place seven-day holds on transactions suspected of fraud, with possible 15-day extensions by officials. The push comes as older adults in Pennsylvania lost nearly $216 million to online scams in 2025, with investment scams accounting for over $98 million (up 75% from 2024), government impersonation scams at $10.66 million, and romance scams at $20.2 million. Similar fraud-prevention legislation has already been enacted in at least 33 states, including Georgia as of July 1.

A Dooly County man lost $164,000 in a "Pig Butchering" romance scam, where he was deceived through Facebook into investing in fake cryptocurrency by someone posing as a woman. After the victim reported the crime to the FBI, federal prosecutors successfully seized approximately $18,000 worth of Bitcoin that had been stolen from him, with the suspected scammers operating out of Malaysia. The case highlights a growing trend of cryptocurrency investment fraud, with Georgia residents reporting over $152 million in investment fraud losses in 2024, with crypto accounting for $132 million of that total.

A federal jury convicted 41-year-old Babajide Adesayo of Douglasville, Georgia for his role in a transnational romance and business scam that defrauded elderly victims of $2.7 million between April 2020 and September 2021. Adesayo acted as a money launderer for an international network, receiving stolen retirement savings under the guise of an automotive business and then wiring the funds to accounts in China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria. He was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 16 counts of transactional money laundering, with sentencing scheduled for November 20.

Babajide Adesayo, a 41-year-old Georgia resident, was convicted of laundering over $2.7 million stolen from elderly victims of romance fraud and other online schemes between April 2020 and September 2021. Adesayo received the criminal proceeds through business accounts controlled by co-defendant Efemena Igbe, disguised the transfers as vehicle sales, and rapidly moved the funds to overseas accounts in China, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and other jurisdictions. The victims, primarily elderly people deceived by fraudsters posing as romantic partners or business contacts, had been manipulated into sending retirement savings and substantial personal funds based on fabricated emergencies.

A Douglasville man was convicted of laundering over $2.7 million stolen from romance scam victims, primarily elderly adults who lost retirement savings between April 2020 and September 2021. Babajide Adesayo helped move victims' funds through a transnational network to China, Hong Kong, and Nigeria by disguising the transactions as vehicle payments from his automotive business. He was convicted on two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 16 counts of transactional money laundering, with sentencing scheduled for November 20.

A man used romance fraud to target elderly Georgians, pretending to be sick, hurt, or imprisoned to manipulate them into sending money, ultimately stealing $2.7 million from victims. Prosecutors pursued charges against the perpetrator for exploiting seniors' emotions and financial resources through deceptive schemes.

Florida, Georgia, and Texas rank among the states with the highest reported cryptocurrency fraud losses, with California leading at over $2.5 billion and Texas reporting nearly $1.4 billion in losses. Scammers use increasingly sophisticated tactics including fake apps, social media solicitations, celebrity endorsements, and fraudulent educational courses that promise wealth through cryptocurrency trading but deliver little value or don't exist. These schemes often employ pump-and-dump tactics, fake trading platforms displaying fabricated profits, and high-pressure sales of expensive mentorship programs and VIP memberships costing thousands of dollars.

Solid Rock Baptist Church and three partner churches are hosting a fraud prevention workshop on August 15, 2026, in Appling, Georgia, to educate seniors about common scams including impostor fraud, online shopping scams, and cryptocurrency investment schemes. Presenters from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, AARP, and other agencies will discuss how scams have escalated dramatically—government impostor scams alone increased from $171 million in losses in 2023 to $789 million in 2024—and how emerging AI technology is making fraudulent schemes harder to detect. The workshop aims to help community members protect themselves and their families from scammers who target seniors' life savings.

As Georgia's population grows by nearly 100,000 residents annually, law enforcement reports increasing cybercrime and scams, with the state ranking among the top 10 for reported cybercrime nationwide and experiencing a 24% increase in cyber-enabled crime. Older adults are disproportionately targeted through gift card scams, fake grandchild emergency calls, and impersonation schemes where scammers pose as law enforcement claiming victims owe money for arrest warrants or unpaid citations. State officials are expanding partnerships with the FBI and Georgia Attorney General's Office to combat these emerging threats through coordinated investigations and intelligence sharing.

Georgia is experiencing a surge in cybercrime and scams as its population grows, with the state ranking among the top 10 nationwide for reported cybercrime and experiencing a 24% increase in cyber-enabled crime. Older adults are being disproportionately targeted through gift card scams, fake grandchild emergency calls, and impersonation schemes where scammers pose as law enforcement demanding payment for arrest warrants or unpaid citations. State law enforcement agencies are expanding partnerships with the FBI and Georgia Attorney General's Office to combat these threats through coordinated investigations and intelligence sharing.

Georgia law enforcement reports a surge in cybercrime and scams as the state's population grows, with cybercrime increasing 24% nationwide and Georgia ranking in the top 10 states for reported cyber-enabled crimes. Older adults are being disproportionately targeted through gift card scams, fake grandchild emergency calls, and impersonation schemes where scammers claim victims owe money for arrest warrants or unpaid citations. State officials are expanding partnerships with federal agencies to combat these emerging threats through intelligence sharing and coordinated investigations.

A Georgia family searching for a Barbie DreamHouse online was directed to a fraudulent website disguised as Wayfair that appeared in top Google search results, resulting in $16,000 in unauthorized Amazon Web Services charges on their stolen credit card. The family's bank initially refused to cover the fraudulent charges for months before finally agreeing to reimburse them last week. The scam highlights how fake retail sites are appearing in prominent search engine results to deceive shoppers into entering their payment information.

Thomas Coley pleaded guilty to theft over $10,000 after scamming a 77-year-old Milan, Tennessee resident in December 2025 by impersonating an "Apple Security" employee and convincing her to withdraw $39,600 in cash. Coley was arrested in Dunwoody, Georgia with assistance from security video and police cameras, and paid full restitution of $39,600 on the day of his plea, receiving a seven-month sentence with the remainder of his five-year sentence suspended upon completion of that restitution.

Georgia's new House Bill 945, effective July 1, 2026, allows banks and credit unions to pause suspicious transactions they suspect are fraudulent, protecting adults 65 and older as well as those with physical or mental incapacities, dementia, or Alzheimer's disease. Common bank scams involve callers claiming your account is under attack and pressuring you to transfer money to a "safe account" that actually belongs to scammers, potentially turning years of savings into irreversible losses. The law's effectiveness depends on your state, financial institution, and account type, so consumers should stay alert to scam calls, verify requests directly with their bank using official numbers, and consider registering for fraud prevention resources.

Georgia's Department of Agriculture has warned farmers about sophisticated online scams targeting agricultural equipment purchases, where criminals use AI to create fake websites and impersonate legitimate farm equipment dealers, then convince buyers to wire money for tractors or equipment that never exists or gets delivered. Farmers across Georgia have lost money to these schemes, which typically start with attractively priced equipment listings followed by contact from fake dealership representatives requesting payment. To protect themselves, farmers should verify sellers directly with dealerships, avoid wire transfers, and report suspected scams to their bank, local law enforcement, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture immediately.

Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create deepfakes and clone voices to impersonate trusted individuals and steal millions of dollars from victims. The FBI reported nearly $893 million in AI-enabled scam losses in 2025, with criminals targeting people through romance schemes, fake investments, emergency calls, and "grandparent scams" where they impersonate relatives in distress. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unexpected calls or messages requesting money, verify requests through independent contact with known phone numbers, and report suspicious activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Georgia farmers are being targeted by scammers who impersonate legitimate farm equipment dealers using artificial intelligence and fake websites to trick buyers into wiring money for equipment that is never delivered or doesn't exist. The Georgia Department of Agriculture warns that these fraudsters use advanced technology to create convincing imitations of real businesses and communications. Farmers should verify dealer legitimacy before sending any payments and report suspected scams to local authorities immediately.

A 53-year-old Georgia man pleaded guilty to operating a romance scam that defrauded at least four victims of approximately $356,500, with a 77-year-old New York woman losing over $177,000 after being contacted through Facebook by someone posing as a widowed American living in Norway. The scammer, Stephen Odiboh, built an 18-month fake relationship with the victim before convincing her to send thousands in gift cards and checks, though her bank ultimately stopped two final payments of $158,000. People should be cautious of online romantic contacts requesting money, verify identities through official channels before sending funds, and alert their banks immediately if they suspect fraud.

A Georgia man pleaded guilty to running a romance scam scheme that defrauded at least four victims of approximately $356,500 between 2023 and 2025, including a 77-year-old New York woman who lost over $177,000 after being deceived by someone posing as a widowed American living in Norway. The scammer used fake identities on social media and dating websites to build trust with victims before requesting money through gift cards, checks, wire transfers, and cash apps, often with follow-up requests for additional funds. To protect yourself, be skeptical of online romantic interests you've never met in person, especially those who claim to be overseas or in financial emergencies, and verify requests with your bank before sending money.

A Georgia man pleaded guilty to leading romance and business scams that defrauded four victims of approximately $356,500 between 2023 and 2025, including a 77-year-old Western New York woman who lost over $177,000 after being befriended online by someone claiming to be a widowed man living in Norway. The scammer built trust over a year before requesting gift cards and checks, eventually claiming he needed $158,000 to pay customs fines, though the victim's bank stopped payment on the final checks. To protect yourself, be skeptical of romantic interests who quickly ask for money or gift cards, verify identities through video calls, and report suspicious requests to your bank immediately.

A Georgia woman and an Illinois man have been convicted in a nationwide elder fraud scheme that defrauded a Bradenton senior of $1.4 million; the scammers impersonated law enforcement and convinced the victim to convert his savings into gold bars, which he then handed over to accomplices at predetermined locations. Syed M. Makki was sentenced to over 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $4.75 million in restitution, while the conspiracy targeted multiple victims between 2023 and early 2024 using phone calls and impersonation of government officials and law enforcement. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming you have legal problems or warrants—legitimate law enforcement will not demand payment in gold or other goods, and you should independently verify any such claims by contacting official agencies directly.