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A Nigerian man was extradited from the UK to face eight federal charges for allegedly defrauding Idahoans out of at least $2 million through romance and sextortion scams. He posed as a woman on social media to deceive male victims into sending explicit images, then threatened to share the photos with their families unless they paid. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Idaho enacted a new "Report and Hold" law that authorizes banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions to temporarily freeze suspicious transactions when fraud is suspected. The law protects financial professionals from legal liability when reporting suspected fraud and applies to adults over 65 as well as younger adults with physical or mental impairments.

Members of the Twin Falls, Idaho community are receiving phone scams impersonating Sheriff's Office officials who falsely claim victims missed jury duty and have arrest warrants issued, demanding immediate payment via untraceable methods like gift cards or wire transfers. The scammers use fear and urgency to manipulate victims, and losses can reach thousands of dollars, with lasting emotional and psychological impacts. Residents are advised to verify caller identity through official channels, reject unsolicited payment demands, and report incidents to local law enforcement and the FTC.

At a February 2024 cybersecurity conference in Boise, industry experts discussed the rising threat of digital fraud as financial technology adoption has surged—with 88% of Americans now using fintech services, up from 60% pre-COVID. The FBI reported 800,944 cyber-crime complaints in 2022 with $10.2 billion in losses, while the FTC received 5.4 million complaints in 2023, with Idaho alone losing $40.6 million to fraud across 9,829 reports. Experts emphasized that younger generations (ages 20-29) filed 44% of fraud complaints due to lower financial literacy and less skepticism

This report highlights that scammers commonly impersonate government agencies, particularly targeting people through fake websites and communications about federal student loan forgiveness and IRS tax issues. Since 2018, $28 million has been lost to IRS impersonation scams, and the Federal Trade Commission distributed over $3 million in relief to victims of student loan forgiveness scams. Experts advise that legitimate government agencies will not contact citizens via email or text requesting personal information or immediate payment, and recommend directly contacting these agencies to verify any suspicious communications.

Detective Brad Thorne of the Boise Police Department is hosting a live Q&A session on March 20 to educate the public about scams and fraud prevention. With over 15 years of experience investigating financial crimes, Thorne will address common scam methods, warning signs, and strategies for protecting vulnerable family members, as well as guidance for victims. The session will be broadcast live on the Boise Police Department's Facebook and Instagram stories at 2 p.m.

The Idaho Department of Finance warned the public about a sophisticated precious metals scam targeting primarily senior citizens, in which scammers convince victims their identity or finances have been compromised, then direct them to purchase gold or other precious metals and hand them over to couriers posing as government or financial officials. According to FBI data, victims lost over $55 million to this scam in the last eight months of 2023 alone. The department advises people to distrust requests to purchase physical precious metals for government or business purposes and to report suspected fraud to local authorities and the FBI.

An Idaho homeowner received an unsolicited text message from someone claiming to be an assistant to a real estate agent named "Daniel," who knew the homeowner's address and asked about listing their home without an agent. The interaction raised red flags including the sender's possession of personal information, vague responses, lack of transparency about her employer, and an untraceable phone number, before the sender ceased communication. The article warns Idaho homeowners to be cautious of similar contacts, as such scams could potentially lead to identity theft, property fraud, or safety concerns, and advises verifying the legitimacy of unknown parties before sharing any personal information.

Idaho's Department of Finance is warning residents about an uptick in precious metals scams where fraudsters convince victims their identities or accounts have been compromised, then direct them to purchase gold or precious metals and hand them over to fake couriers posing as government officials or financial professionals. According to the FBI, victims lost over $55 million to these cash and precious metals courier scams during the last eight months of 2023, with seniors being disproportionately targeted. The advisory urges Idahoans to be skeptical of unsolicited requests to purchase precious metals for "protection" and to report suspected scams immediately to authorities.

The City of Gooding, Idaho fell victim to an impersonation scam in which fraudsters posed as contractors for a wastewater project and convinced city officials to wire $1,092,519 to a fraudulent account by providing legitimate-appearing documentation and requesting a bank account change. After the payment was made, the scammers quickly transferred the funds to another account, and recovery efforts proved unsuccessful. The Gooding County Sheriff's Office and FBI are investigating, and the city plans to implement new training and protocols to prevent similar incidents.

Scammers used social engineering tactics to trick a Gooding, Idaho city employee into sending $1,092,519 intended for a wastewater project contractor to the criminals' account instead, by impersonating the contractor and providing fraudulent banking information. The small town of approximately 3,700 residents has not yet recovered the funds, and the Gooding Sheriff's Office and FBI are investigating the case. Recovery of the money is expected to be difficult, as banks and law enforcement typically struggle to retrieve funds diverted to scammers' accounts.

In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams, an 11 percent increase from 2022, prompting Senator Mike Crapo to co-sponsor a unanimously passed Senate Resolution to combat elder fraud. Common scams targeting older Americans include romance schemes, fraudulent tech support, cryptocurrency conversion fraud, and investment scams, with warning signs including unexpected contact with pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, and demands for untraceable payments. The Idaho Attorney General's office and other agencies provide educational resources and encourage seniors to report fraud without shame, noting that scammers are sophisticated and victims should contact law enforcement, their financial institutions, and relevant agencies rather than remaining silent due to

**Article:** "Raising awareness about fraud targeting seniors" The FBI reported seniors lost $3.4 billion in 2023, an 11-percent increase from 2022, through scams including romance fraud, fake tech support, cryptocurrency schemes, and investment fraud. The article outlines six warning signs of scams and provides guidance on prevention measures and reporting channels, including contacting local police, the FTC, FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams—an 11% increase from 2022—with common schemes including romance fraud, fake tech support, cryptocurrency conversion, and investment scams. The Idaho Attorney General and FBI provide educational resources and warning signs (unexpected contact, pressure to act quickly, requests for untraceable payments, demands for secrecy, and too-good-to-be-true offers) to help seniors identify fraud. Victims are encouraged to report incidents to local police, the FTC, FBI's IC3, or U.S. Postal Inspection Service despite shame or embarrassment, as reporting is critical to combating senior fraud.

The Better Business Bureau is warning job seekers about a fraudulent Idaho-based reshipping company called Intelligent Post, which contacts people through career websites like Indeed with fake remote job offers and requests personal information including government-issued ID photos to commit identity fraud and open fraudulent credit accounts. The dissolved company, operating under multiple aliases, has generated 47 scam tracker reports and eight complaints in the past 12 months, with at least two victims in Oregon under age 35. The BBB advises job seekers to verify employment offers through official company websites and avoid sharing sensitive personal information with unknown entities.

Idaho's Department of Finance and Commission on Aging have established a joint Senior Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Working Group (SFFEP) comprising financial and senior protection experts to develop policies and solutions protecting seniors from financial crime. With seniors losing an estimated $36.5 billion annually to scams and cybercrime losses reaching $3.4 billion in 2023 alone, the working group aims to improve fraud prevention, identification, enforcement, public education, and reporting mechanisms for Idaho's senior community.

A Meridian, Idaho woman received a phone call from a scammer claiming her family member was in a car accident and demanding $2,000, threatening to hurt the victim if money wasn't sent. The victim grew suspicious when the caller couldn't answer specific questions about her family member, so she drove to verify the person's safety in person and discovered the threat was false. The scammer never obtained any money, and Meridian Police noted that attempted scams without financial loss typically don't result in formal reports, though residents should contact police if money is actually lost.

James and Jessica Dougherty of Boise were sentenced for wire fraud exceeding $187,000 after systematically defrauding elderly rancher Donna Douglass, now 81, beginning in 2015. The couple befriended the former teacher, moved onto her 46-acre property, isolated her from communication and transportation, gained control of her finances as power of attorney, and fraudulently sold the ranch to themselves for $96,085 despite it being valued at over twice that amount. James received 41 months in prison and Jessica received three years of probation, with restitution to be determined later.

James and Jessica Dougherty of Boise were sentenced for wire fraud involving over $187,000 after systematically defrauding 81-year-old Donna Douglass, a former elementary teacher. The couple befriended Douglass, isolated her by controlling her transportation and communication, obtained power of attorney over her finances, and fraudulently sold her 46-acre Idaho ranch to themselves for $96,085—far below its assessed value of over $190,000—without her consent. James Dougherty received 41 months in prison and Jessica received three years of probation, with restitution to be determined later.

In 2023, seniors lost $3.4 billion to scams—an 11% increase from 2022—prompting a unanimously passed Senate Resolution to combat elder fraud. Common scams include romance fraud, tech support scams, cryptocurrency schemes, and investment fraud, with warning signs including unexpected contact, pressure to act quickly, requests for personal information, and demands for untraceable payments. Victims are encouraged to end contact with scammers, report incidents to local police, the FTC, FBI, or postal inspection services, and take protective measures such as updating security software and monitoring financial accounts.

This article warns Idaho shoppers about five common Amazon-related scams to watch out for during Prime Big Deal Days (October 8-9). Amazon is the second most impersonated brand in America, with the FTC reporting 34,000 Amazon scam complaints resulting in $19 million in losses last year. The article explains phishing tactics (via email, text, phone) and other scams scammers use to steal passwords, credit card numbers, and banking information from unsuspecting shoppers during peak shopping seasons.

Idaho Attorney General Larry EchoHawk warned residents about companies using patriotic-sounding names to conduct fraudulent or deceptive business practices, with his Consumer Protection Unit taking enforcement action or investigating eleven businesses involved in sweepstakes scams, living trust sales, loan brokering, and magazine subscriptions. The attorney general cautioned consumers not to judge businesses solely by their names and to scrutinize what is actually being offered, regardless of how patriotic the company's branding appears.

An Albertsons manager in Nampa, Idaho prevented a customer from losing nearly $3,000 to a phone scam by recognizing that the customer was depositing cash into a Coinstar machine after claiming a "sheriff" told him he had an arrest warrant. The scam is a common impersonation scheme where fraudsters pose as government officials or law enforcement demanding immediate payment via cryptocurrency ATMs, gift cards, or wire transfers—methods legitimate authorities never request. Albertsons staff are trained to recognize such red flags and intervene when customers attempt suspicious transactions.

Idaho State Police warned residents of a phone scam in which callers impersonating law enforcement officers threaten victims with false DNA test requirements and arrest warrants, then demand immediate payment to "resolve" the matter. The scammers have targeted multiple Idaho residents, in some cases claiming victims or their relatives missed mandatory DNA appointments and had warrants issued against them, and requesting bond payments. The Idaho State Police urged residents to verify suspicious calls directly with authorities and cautioned that these scams undermine legitimate DNA collection efforts by the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative program.

Idaho State Police warned residents of a wave of phone scams in which callers impersonated law enforcement officers and falsely claimed victims needed DNA tests or had arrest warrants, demanding immediate payment via gift cards or money transfers to resolve the alleged violations. In reported cases, scammers left voicemails about missed DNA appointments resulting in arrest warrants and called posing as troopers searching for relatives who supposedly failed mandatory DNA tests. ISP emphasized that legitimate law enforcement never demands payment or threatens arrest over the phone and urged residents to verify suspicious calls directly with ISP.

The Idaho State Police issued a warning about phone scams targeting Idaho residents in which callers impersonate law enforcement officers, falsely claiming victims missed mandatory DNA tests and have arrest warrants issued against them, then demanding immediate payment via gift cards or money transfers to resolve the alleged charges. These fraudulent schemes undermine the ISP's legitimate Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) program and can cost victims thousands of dollars. Residents can verify suspicious calls by contacting ISP directly at [email protected] or 208-846-7582.

The Office on Aging in Ketchum, Idaho reported a rise in financial scams targeting elderly residents and hosted a fraud prevention seminar on November 7 featuring officials from the Idaho Department of Finance, AARP, and Idaho Commission on Aging. The event aimed to educate the community about common scams affecting seniors, including fake virus pop-ups and romance scams that exploit lonely individuals for significant sums of money.

Adults over 60 lost $3.4 billion to scams in 2023, with over 101,000 elderly individuals compromised through romance, tax, and emergency impersonation scams, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Financial experts warn that scammers increasingly exploit elderly people through online methods by establishing false relationships, impersonating the IRS or law enforcement, and pressuring victims into sending money or personal information. Key protective measures include verifying online contacts through photo searches, moving slowly in new relationships, never sending money to online-only contacts, and remaining skeptical of individuals who avoid in-person meetings or request financial information.

Romance scams spike around Valentine's Day, with scammers targeting vulnerable individuals—particularly recently divorced or widowed seniors—through fake online profiles on dating apps and social media. Over 70,000 Americans fall victim to these "confidence schemes" annually, losing a collective $75 billion over four years through requests for money via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. Homeland Security advises recognizing warning signs such as claims of being abroad, love-bombing, avoiding video calls, and requests for explicit photos, and recommends victims immediately cut contact, refuse financial requests, and report the scammer to the platform.

AARP Idaho is advocating for the passage of HB 182, "Report and Hold" legislation that would allow financial institutions to temporarily withhold suspicious transactions, a protection currently lacking in Idaho and only seven other states. In 2023, Idaho experienced 14,424 reported scam cases resulting in over $40 million in losses, and with seniors projected to comprise 20% of the state's population by 2026, the legislation aims to provide critical protections for vulnerable elderly residents' financial assets.

Idaho is advancing House Bill 182, the "Report and Hold" legislation, which would allow financial institutions to pause suspicious transactions for up to 15 days to investigate potential fraud affecting seniors 65 and older and vulnerable adults. According to AARP, Idaho reported over 14,000 scams in 2023 and is one of only 8 states without such protective measures; the bill's supporters argue it could recover significant funds by enabling faster law enforcement involvement, though some community leaders express concerns about temporary account restrictions.

A 17-year-old cancer patient in Twin Falls, Idaho had donations meant for her chemotherapy treatment stolen by scammers who created fake Venmo accounts impersonating Gem State Infusions, the medical facility providing her IV infusions, and used her photos to solicit funds. The scammers stole hundreds of dollars that would have covered critical vitamin C infusions costing approximately $200 each, with the patient needing two per week to maintain strength for chemotherapy. The Twin Falls Police Department is investigating the Venmo fraud scheme.

An elderly couple in Rexburg, Idaho lost $35,000 after being targeted by scammers who impersonated PayPal's fraud department and their local bank, convincing them to make large cash withdrawals under the false pretense of investigating fraudulent Bitcoin purchases. The victims were instructed to lie to bank tellers about the withdrawals and later deposit the cash into a Bitcoin ATM, after which two men arrived at their home to collect the money in person. Rexburg Police warn seniors to verify requests directly with their financial institutions and note that legitimate banks never conduct fraud investigations through individual customers.

Idaho passed HB 323 into law, enabling financial institutions to temporarily pause suspicious transactions for up to 15 days to investigate potential fraud, addressing a critical gap that left the state's seniors vulnerable to financial crimes. In 2024 alone, Idaho seniors reported 18,447 scam cases resulting in over $53 million in losses. The "Report and Hold" authority law, effective July 1, 2025, empowers financial institutions and law enforcement to better identify and stop financial crimes against vulnerable Idahoans.

A sophisticated phishing scam targeting Idaho residents has been exploiting vulnerabilities in Google's infrastructure to bypass security systems and appear as legitimate Google emails. The attack, discovered by developer Nick Johnson, uses fraudulent emails designed to trick recipients into sharing sensitive data or downloading malware. Experts recommend using authenticator apps, regularly updating passwords, and forwarding suspicious emails to legitimate support sources like Google Support for verification.

Idaho passed a "report and hold" law effective July 1 that allows financial institutions to temporarily freeze transactions for up to 15 days if they suspect adults 65 and older or those with disabilities are being targeted by scammers seeking fraudulent transfers. Idaho consumers reported losing nearly $54 million to scams in the previous year, and the law enables banks and securities firms to report suspected financial exploitation to state officials while investigating red flags such as sudden withdrawals, unusual contact changes, or nervous customer behavior during transactions. The legislation fills a gap as Idaho becomes one of only 26 states with such protections applying to both the banking and securities industries.

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.

Government agencies across Washington and Idaho are warning residents about multiple active scams, including government imposter schemes, fake DMV text messages demanding payment for traffic violations, romance scams, and cryptocurrency kiosk fraud. In early 2025, Washington fraud victims lost $38.2 million with people ages 80 and older experiencing median losses of $1,286, while Idaho residents lost over $63 million to cybercrimes in 2024, with seniors being predominately targeted. Authorities advise residents never to respond to unsolicited demands for payment and to independently verify any claims by contacting the legitimate agency using official phone numbers rather than information provided by the scammer.

Romance and confidence fraud caused $601 million in damages to 16,504 victims across the United States in 2023, with an average loss of $36,459 per victim. Idaho was hit hardest, with 112 victims losing $6.9 million ($61,784 per person), while scammers posing as online pen pals or relatives in distress targeted victims primarily through email and social media. Elderly victims aged 60 and older comprised approximately 40% of victims and suffered $365.9 million in losses.

This opinion piece advocates for the bipartisan TRAPS Act (Task Force for Recognizing and Averting Payment Scams) to combat the surge in digital fraud, which cost Americans $12.5 billion in losses across 2.6 million fraud reports last year—a 25% increase from the previous year. The author, a former law enforcement executive, argues that payment scams disproportionately target older adults through romance schemes, fake investments, and AI-generated impersonation calls, and that the current fragmented approach leaves victims bouncing between agencies without effective coordination. The proposed legislation would unite the Treasury Department, FTC, Justice Department, FCC, and financial industry leaders

Financial fraud has evolved into large-scale criminal operations targeting seniors through romance scams, cryptocurrency schemes, and impersonation fraud. Idaho experienced a significant surge in cybercrime complaints, rising from 1,800 complaints totaling $17.7 million in 2021 to over 3,000 complaints resulting in $63 million in losses in 2024. AARP Idaho is hosting a Senior Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Roadshow across four locations to educate seniors on recognizing red flags and protecting themselves from organized cybercriminals.

Idaho's Attorney General warned of a surge in cryptocurrency ATM scams targeting seniors, with reported losses jumping from $19 million in 2023 to over $35 million in 2024. Scammers use fake tech support calls and government imposter schemes to trick victims into depositing cash at cryptocurrency ATMs located in gas stations and convenience stores, where transactions are untraceable and recovery is nearly impossible. One alert convenience store employee prevented two seniors from losing over $30,000 in a single week by unplugging the machine and calling police.

A Boise, Idaho gas station clerk named Avalon Hardy intervened to stop at least seven cryptocurrency scams targeting elderly customers by questioning suspicious Bitcoin ATM transactions and unplugging the machine to prevent a 79-year-old from losing $15,000 and a 75-year-old from losing $19,000. Crypto fraud has become increasingly prevalent, with scammers using tactics like impersonation, fake government agencies, and AI-powered deepfakes to target older adults, who reported losses exceeding $1.6 billion in 2023 alone and are the most vulnerable demographic to these schemes.

A 34-year-old Nigerian man was extradited to the United States to face federal charges for operating cyber-enabled sextortion and romance scams that targeted victims across the country, including an Idaho college student. Shanu and his co-conspirators impersonated women on social media to coerce victims into sharing sexual images, then extorted money by threatening to distribute the images to family and friends, while also conducting romance scams and laundering at least $2 million in proceeds through payment platforms and cryptocurrency. If convicted on eight counts including wire fraud, identity theft, extortion, and money laundering, Shanu faces up to 20 years in federal prison and restitution to victims.

Olamide Shanu, a 34-year-old Nigerian man, was extradited from the United Kingdom and charged in federal court in Idaho with defrauding victims of at least $2 million through sextortion and romance scams. Shanu and co-conspirators allegedly posed as women on social media to trick male victims into sending explicit images, then threatened to distribute them unless payments were made, with proceeds laundered through cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer payment apps. He faces eight federal charges carrying up to 20 years in prison and potential restitution to victims.

The Idaho Department of Finance held a free educational seminar on September 25 in Twin Falls to help seniors and their families recognize and protect themselves from scams. The presentation focused on current fraud schemes, particularly romance scams targeting seniors, which have resulted in losses ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per victim, and provided information on resources available to those who have been defrauded.

Nigerian national Olamide Shanu was extradited from the UK and prosecuted in U.S. federal court for his role in cyber-enabled sextortion, romance scams, and wire fraud that defrauded victims of at least $2 million. Shanu and accomplices posed as women on social media to solicit sexually explicit images from male victims, then extorted money by threatening to release the images to their contacts, with proceeds laundered through cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer payment platforms. Shanu faces an eight-count indictment including wire fraud, extortion, and money laundering, with potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The Pocatello Police Department warned of multiple scams circulating in the area, including ransom scams where perpetrators falsely claim to hold a loved one hostage and now use AI-generated images, audio, and video to increase credibility. Additional scams reported include romance scams requesting gift cards and money, and impersonation scams where fraudsters pose as law enforcement threatening arrest unless payment is made. Police advise residents to exercise caution and skepticism when contacted by unknown parties.

Idaho enacted the "Report and Hold" law to protect seniors from fraud by allowing financial institutions to place temporary holds on suspicious transactions without employee liability for reporting. The legislation aims to disrupt fraud attempts early by enlisting banks and other institutions to identify and prevent suspicious activity targeting senior citizens.

Idaho enacted House Bill 182 (the "Report and Hold" law) to protect seniors aged 65+ and vulnerable adults from financial exploitation by authorizing financial institutions to place temporary holds on suspicious transactions and report suspected fraud to law enforcement without fear of liability. The law covers a broad range of financial entities and encourages staff to identify red flags such as large withdrawals, irregular account activity, or signs of undue influence, while facilitating information sharing among institutions and state agencies to strengthen investigations.