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Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has sued Idaho man Kevin Wardell and his company Diverse Solutions, LLC for selling fraudulent spotted lanternfly permits and training while impersonating the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture through deceptive mailings. Wardell allegedly deceived Pennsylvanians and businesses into purchasing the fake permits and training by threatening civil and criminal penalties, when legitimate permits and training are actually available for free through the Department of Agriculture and Penn State Extension. The lawsuit seeks to prohibit the business from operating in Pennsylvania, obtain restitution for all affected consumers, and pursue civil penalties.

Scammers in Idaho's Treasure Valley are impersonating police and threatening victims with arrest warrants, instructing them to deposit cash into cryptocurrency ATMs to avoid prosecution. Between January 2025 and September 2026, victims across the region lost over $2.1 million, with approximately half of identified victims over age 60. Local governments are responding by considering bans on cryptocurrency ATMs within city limits to combat the fraud and prevent further losses.

Nigerian national Olamide Shanu pleaded guilty in federal court in Idaho to operating an international money laundering scheme involving sextortion and romance scams that targeted approximately 150 Americans and generated over $2.5 million in fraud proceeds. The scheme used fake social media identities to build relationships with victims and extort intimate images, with stolen funds laundered through peer-to-peer payment apps and cryptocurrency before being transferred to Nigeria. Shanu faces up to 20 years in prison at his December 15 sentencing.

A 35-year-old Nigerian national, Olamide Shanu, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy for his role in international sextortion and romance scam schemes that defrauded approximately 150 American victims and generated over $2.5 million in criminal proceeds. Shanu and his co-conspirators targeted male victims with sextortion threats using intimate images and older men and women through fake romantic identities on social media, laundering the proceeds through peer-to-peer payments and cryptocurrency before transferring funds to Nigeria. Shanu was extradited to the United States and pleaded guilty in Idaho federal court in September 2026 as part of the Department of Justice's

Daejon Love, 35, and accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged with wire fraud for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded at least 61 women across multiple states out of $1.3 million between February 2022 and August 2026. Love posed as an NFL player or wealthy real estate developer on dating apps, using AI-generated fake images and manipulated search results to build trust before convincing victims to invest money or take out personal loans. The pair were arrested at a Boise, Idaho airport and will be tried in federal court in Portland, Oregon.

A 35-year-old man named Daejon Love, along with an 18-year-old accomplice Taylor Chan, scammed at least 26 women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California by posing as an NFL player on dating apps and creating fake investment schemes. The pair collectively stole over $1.3 million from victims, with one woman losing more than $87,000, by using fake bank accounts to show fabricated investment growth before blocking victims once they ran out of money. Love and Chan were arrested last month, and two women who saw through the deception are speaking out to encourage other victims to come forward.

Two men, Daejon Labrayae Love and Taylor Jamie Chan, were arrested in August 2026 for operating a dating scam since February 2022 that targeted women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Love posed as an NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers on dating apps while Chan impersonated his financial adviser, defrauding 26 women and collecting approximately $1.3 million through fictitious investment schemes. Love also falsely claimed to have played college football at Syracuse University and used multiple aliases and fake videos of himself in luxury cars and 49ers gear to gain victims' trust.

Daejon Love, 35, was arrested in August for allegedly impersonating a San Francisco 49ers player and wealthy investor to romance and defraud at least 26 women across four states, netting approximately $1.3 million. Love's alleged accomplice, 18-year-old Taylor Chan, targeted victims in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California by falsely claiming to own multimillion-dollar homes, luxury cars, and NFL connections. Federal prosecutors are seeking to keep Love detained, citing him as a flight risk due to his use of multiple aliases and lack of permanent residence.

Daejon Love, 35, and co-conspirator Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested for running a romance scam targeting over two dozen women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California, defrauding them of $1.3 million. Love impersonated an NFL player and posed as a Swiss real estate developer on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, while Chan posed as a wealth manager to convince victims to transfer funds or take out loans for fake investments. Both men face federal charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with investigators confirming 26 victims identified so far.

Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged with wire fraud for operating a romance-and-investment scam that defrauded at least 26 women of approximately $1.3 million between February 2022 and August 2024. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player or wealthy real estate investor on dating apps, while Chan impersonated his financial adviser to show fake investment gains; victims were blocked when they ran out of money or asked questions. Both suspects were arrested on August 24 at Boise airport, and federal authorities believe there are additional victims across California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, was arrested by the FBI for orchestrating a multi-state romance and investment fraud scheme targeting at least 26 women across California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, defrauding them of approximately $1.3 million by posing as a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver with an accomplice who posed as his financial adviser. Love and co-conspirator Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged in federal court with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The article also highlights a similar case involving Uras Agee IV, who fraudulently posed as an NFL safety for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on social

Two men, Daejon Labrayae Love (35) and Taylor Jamie Chan (18), were arrested at Boise Airport in connection with a $1.3 million romance and investment scam that targeted at least 26 women across multiple states starting in February 2022. Love posed as a wealthy investor or NFL player on dating apps to build romantic relationships with victims, while Chan posed as his financial adviser; together they convinced women to invest in fake opportunities and manipulated them into sending large sums of money, which they never recovered. The FBI believes there may be additional victims and is seeking information from anyone who encountered the men or has details about the scheme.

A 35-year-old man named Deajon Love allegedly scammed approximately 25 women out of $1.3 million by impersonating a San Francisco 49ers player on dating apps, using AI-generated photos, videos, and fake Google information to appear credible. Love reportedly ran the scheme for about four years, introducing victims to an 18-year-old accomplice posing as a financial advisor, before his arrest by federal authorities at Boise Airport in Idaho on August 24, 2026.

Daejon Labrayae Love and Taylor Jamie Chan allegedly defrauded 26 women of $1.3 million through a romance and investment scam, with Love posing as an NFL player or wealthy real estate investor on social media and convincing victims to invest in fictitious opportunities. The scam, known as "pig butchering," targeted women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California, with both men arrested in Boise and charged with wire fraud conspiracy.

Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, allegedly defrauded 26 women of $1.3 million by posing as a San Francisco 49ers player or wealthy real estate investor on social media, then convincing them to invest in fictitious opportunities with accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan. Love would forge romantic relationships with victims in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California before directing them to fake investments that promised large returns, ultimately blocking them once their money ran out. Both men were arrested in Boise, Idaho and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

A 35-year-old man named Daejon Love and his 18-year-old accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan were arrested by the FBI for wire fraud, allegedly defrauding 26 women of approximately $1.3 million since 2022. Love used fake personas, including posing as a San Francisco 49ers player and real estate investor, to convince women to invest money through dating apps and social media. The pair was apprehended at an airport in Boise, Idaho, where they remain in federal custody.

Daejon Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested in Boise, Idaho in August 2026 after scamming 26 women out of approximately $1.3 million through romance fraud on dating apps. The pair posed as wealthy NFL players and financial advisors, using fake social media profiles, fabricated banking screenshots, and AI-generated false information to build emotional connections and manipulate victims into transferring money and taking out loans for fake investments. Not a single victim recovered any funds, and the scheme exploited structural vulnerabilities in social media platforms and AI search engines that inadvertently validated their false identities.

A 35-year-old man and his 18-year-old accomplice were arrested in Idaho for allegedly posing as a San Francisco 49ers player on dating apps to defraud 26 women of approximately $1.3 million through romance scams and fake investment schemes. The perpetrators used fake identities, social media photos, and false promises of romantic relationships and investment returns to manipulate victims across California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, then disappeared once victims ran out of money. Authorities believe there may be additional unreported victims and continue investigating the scheme.

Daejon Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested and charged with wire fraud for operating a romance scam that defrauded over 26 women out of approximately $1.3 million between February 2022 and 2026. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player and wealthy investor on dating apps, while Chan posed as his financial adviser, convincing victims they were in romantic relationships and encouraging them to invest in fake schemes and take out personal loans. The scheme spanned California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, with the FBI believing there are additional victims beyond the 26 identified.

Two men were arrested for defrauding over 26 women out of $1.3 million through a romance scam where one posed as a San Francisco 49ers player and the other as his financial advisor, using fake investment accounts and dating apps to gain victims' trust across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Daejon Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, used mobile applications to create fictitious bank and investment balances, convincing victims their money was being invested while some were pressured to take out personal loans; no victims received any returns or account information. The pair were arrested in Boise on August 24 and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud

A 35-year-old man was charged with federal crimes for impersonating a San Francisco 49ers player and allegedly defrauding 26 women out of $1.3 million through romance and investment scams over four years. The perpetrator, using aliases including Daejon Love, created a fake Instagram profile and used AI-generated content to enhance his false NFL persona, meeting victims through dating apps and convincing them to send money directly or take out personal loans. An 18-year-old accomplice posed as his financial advisor, and the FBI believes there may be additional victims beyond the 26 identified women from California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were charged with wire fraud conspiracy for allegedly defrauding 26 women out of approximately $1.3 million across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Love posed as a San Francisco 49ers player using fake videos, custom helmets, and fictitious investment accounts, while Chan posed as his financial advisor to convince victims to send money. Neither Love nor Chan had legitimate NFL employment, and investigators found no identifiable income sources supporting their claimed lavish lifestyle.

Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested for a romance and investment scam where Love posed as a wealthy San Francisco 49ers player on social media while Chan posed as his financial adviser to defraud at least 26 women out of $1.3 million. The scheme, which ran from February 2022 until their arrest in Boise, Idaho, involved fake investment opportunities and fabricated bank accounts that promised massive returns; victims reported receiving no returns or investment information after sending money. Authorities believe there may be additional victims beyond those identified from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California.

Florida-based scammers posing as Wells Fargo financial investigators convinced an Idaho resident to withdraw and mail $14,000 overnight to a Florida address, claiming the victim's bank account had been compromised. Idaho Consumer Protection Division investigators and UPS worked together to intercept the package in transit and return the funds to the victim. The incident was stopped before the money reached its final destination, with authorities from Idaho, Florida, and Wells Fargo continuing the investigation.

The Federal Reserve banned two former bankers for stealing from elderly customers: Simon Alberto Gonzalez stole approximately $203,000 from an elderly Regions Bank customer in Orlando between August 2023 and November 2024, while Ralph Mojica took $33,300 from two elderly customers at First Interstate Bank's Nampa, Idaho branch between July and September 2025, plus an additional $8,000 from the bank itself. Both men were fired and barred from banking industry work without Federal Reserve approval, as regulators intensify efforts to combat elder financial exploitation amid a broader trend of seniors losing billions to fraud annually.

An elderly woman in Madison County nearly lost $25,000 after scammers convinced her to seal cash in magazines and ship it as a "gift," but her son discovered the scheme and recovered the package in time. According to the FBI, seniors over 60 lost over $7.7 billion to scams in 2025, with complaints from this age group jumping 37% year-over-year. Authorities urge people to check on elderly loved ones regularly and advise never mailing cash, being wary of demands for secrecy or quick action, and calling trusted family members or local police before sending money in unusual ways.

Romance scams are on the rise: Tips to help protect yourself Paul Silva By Paul Silva, KeyBank Idaho//March 9, 2026// With romance scams on the rise and plenty of people looking to make a connectio...

The Idaho Department of Finance and North American Securities Administrators Association warn that investor fraud remains a significant threat in 2025, with schemes ranging from "pig butchering" romance scams and deepfake impersonations to fake AI trading bots and cryptocurrency fraud. These scams affect investors across all demographics, though older adults face particular targeting, with fraudsters increasingly using social media, short-form videos, text messages, and AI technology to deceive victims. To protect yourself, verify investment opportunities through official channels, be skeptical of unsolicited messages about exclusive investments, never invest in platforms you cannot independently verify, and report suspicious activity to the Idaho Department of Finance.

# Fraud Case Summary An Idaho woman accused of helping steal $338,000 from the town of Orange through fraudulent invoices claims she was actually a victim of a romance scam, according to her attorney. Jennifer Grasmick, 51, allegedly deposited and transferred funds to cryptocurrency as a favor to someone she believed was a romantic interest online, without realizing the money came from fraudulent sources. Her attorney argues she never personally benefited from the scheme and that a proper investigation would reveal she was manipulated by foreign scammers, not a willing participant in the town's theft.

An Idaho woman named Jennifer Grasmick is accused of helping drain $338,000 from the town of Orange through fraudulent invoices, but her attorney claims she was actually a victim of a romance scam who unknowingly deposited and transferred funds to cryptocurrency for a foreign scammer posing as a love interest. Grasmick, described as a vulnerable senior citizen with limited education and health issues, allegedly never received any money herself and had no knowledge of the fraudulent invoice scheme. The case highlights how romance scammers target vulnerable people online and manipulate them into laundering stolen funds through cryptocurrency, which is difficult to trace.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.