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In February 2026, The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said several people came forward claiming to be victims of rental scams. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A new effort in Frankfort targets scammers wh...

A Frankfort-area senior lost $30,000 in a phone scam where callers impersonated the Federal Trade Commission, claiming the victim's accounts were under investigation and demanding immediate payment. Kentucky's Attorney General warns that scammers commonly target older adults by creating urgency and fear, and emphasized that legitimate government agencies never call demanding money, threatening arrest, or requesting wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and verify any claims by contacting the agency directly through official phone numbers or websites.

A 38-year-old Jamaican man has been arrested in Florida for scamming a Kentucky couple out of $83,000 through a fake lottery scheme, where victims were told they had won a $250 million Mega Millions jackpot and were instructed to deposit money to claim their winnings. The suspect, Deroney Facey, admitted to targeting multiple victims across the United States and faces four felony charges including organized crime and securities fraud. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited lottery notifications and remember that legitimate lotteries never require upfront payments to claim winnings—if you receive such a solicitation, report it to authorities immediately.

A Kentucky family lost $810 to rental scammers after their roof collapsed and they desperately needed emergency housing, having been tricked into paying deposits and rent for a property the scammers didn't own through prepaid cards. Scammers typically target vacant properties, list them below market value, and pressure victims for quick payment through untraceable methods like prepaid cards. To protect yourself, verify property ownership through public records, insist on meeting landlords in person, use established rental services, and be suspicious of deals that seem too good to be true—especially on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace.

Scammers created a fake Facebook post impersonating the legitimate Woodland Art Fair in Lexington, Kentucky, targeting artists seeking booth space by directing them to an out-of-state phone number and requesting hundreds of dollars in fees. At least one artist lost $250 to the scheme, with an estimated $1,500 scammed from multiple artists over time, particularly vulnerable out-of-state vendors who may not recognize red flags like the fake email domain and missing official city logos. To protect themselves, artists should verify booth space applications directly through official websites (woodlandartfair.org) and city parks departments, check for official logos and verified contact information, and be suspicious of pressure tactics claiming limited spots are available.

An elderly couple in Hopkinsville, Kentucky was charged $64,000 (totaling $79,000 with a duplicate charge) after signing a blank invoice for asphalt driveway patching work in June. A man solicited the work unsolicited, claiming his crew had extra asphalt available, but after obtaining the wife's signature on a mostly blank invoice, the scammers completed a full driveway paving job and demanded immediate payment on multiple credit cards. The Better Business Bureau warns this is part of a pattern of door-to-door asphalt scams where fraudsters create urgency, use high-pressure tactics, and exploit blank or misleading invoices to

An elderly couple in Hopkinsville, Kentucky was charged $64,000 (totaling $79,000 with a duplicate charge) in an asphalt paving scam after an unsolicited worker approached their home claiming to have extra asphalt materials available. The scammers had the homeowner sign a mostly blank invoice, then filled in details afterward to make it appear the couple had approved full driveway paving work, and demanded immediate payment via multiple credit cards. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to watch for common scam patterns including unsolicited door visits, pressure tactics creating urgency, and incomplete contracts, and advises victims to dispute charges and contact authorities immediately.

An elderly couple in Hopkinsville, Kentucky was victimized by an asphalt paving scam in June when an unsolicited contractor approached them offering to patch their driveway at a low cost. After the mother signed a mostly blank invoice, the scammers filled in details and paved the entire driveway, charging $64,000 (totaling $79,000 with a duplicate charge), which the parents charged to multiple credit cards before their son stopped payment on three of the four cards. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to avoid unsolicited door-to-door home improvement offers that use urgency tactics and to verify quotes before signing any documents.

Governor Andy Beshear announced the launch of StopScams.ky.gov, a new website designed to help Kentuckians report scams, learn prevention strategies, and access recovery resources. According to a 2024 FBI report, Kentuckians lose over $74 million annually to online scammers, prompting the state to partner with the Better Business Bureau and AARP to equip residents with tools to identify and avoid fraud. The site emphasizes a "pause, check, and protect" approach and offers scam alerts via email or text, along with free educational "Scam Jam" events throughout the state.

A 36-year-old Canadian man, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested in July after conducting a multi-state door-to-door scam targeting seniors across Ohio, Indiana, New Mexico, and Tennessee, defrauding victims of an estimated $309,000 total. One Charlestown, Indiana resident was tricked into withdrawing $27,000 from his retirement accounts and handing it over in cash; three additional attempted scams in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan were prevented by family members, potentially saving another $70,000 in losses. Liu was apprehended at Louisville airport while attempting to flee the country and faces charges including theft, fraud, conspiracy, an

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.

A 36-year-old Canadian citizen, Jia Hua Liu, was arrested at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in July after a multi-state scam targeting elderly victims, with confirmed losses exceeding $309,000 across Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, and Tennessee. In the initial Charlestown, Kentucky case, an elderly resident was defrauded of $27,000 after being tricked into withdrawing funds from his retirement account; three additional elderly victims in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan were nearly victimized for an additional $70,000 before family members intervened. Liu was charged with theft, fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, and police believe there are

Patrick Waite, accused of murdering his wife Alma Waite and two others in Haubstadt, Kentucky, also faces a separate elder abuse and fraud complaint alleging that Alma pressured him to allow her family to move into their shared home, restricted his access to his children, and transferred property ownership to her children without his knowledge. An injunction was filed preventing Alma's daughter Alondre Tepia Medrano from selling the home or its contents, with another court hearing scheduled for January 2026.

Scammers sent fraudulent text messages across Kentucky impersonating the state DMV, claiming recipients had outstanding traffic tickets and directing them to click links to provide personal information and make payments. The Kentucky DMV does not request information via phone or text message, and multiple local police departments warned residents to delete and block such messages.

AARP hosted its Summer Scam Jam event in Louisville, Kentucky to educate seniors about rising fraud schemes, as reported losses reached $12.5 billion in 2024. One victim, Mary Ellen Strange, lost approximately $378,000 over seven weeks to an Amazon impersonation scam that used fear tactics and false law enforcement claims, leaving her facing additional IRS debt. Common fraud schemes include impersonation scams (family members, law enforcement, and customer service representatives), and AARP stressed that anyone regardless of education level can become a victim.

A Kentucky family is advocating for stronger protections against "sextortion" scams, in which perpetrators threaten to release intimate images unless victims pay money, after their son's death. The FBI reports that at least 20 teenagers in the U.S. have died by suicide as a result of sextortion schemes since 2021. A new law signed by President Trump aims to help combat these online scams and prevent further tragedies.

I cannot provide a summary for the Elderus database based on this content. This article reports on a tornado-related death and emergency response in Washington County, Kentucky—it does not involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. This material falls outside the scope of elder fraud documentation.

"Pig butchering," a financial grooming scam where perpetrators build trust over months before soliciting investments (often in cryptocurrency), has resulted in victims losing thousands to millions of dollars, with investment scam losses increasing from $3.3 billion in 2022 to $4.5 billion in 2023. One Kentucky victim lost $1.7 million in assets after being manipulated into selling her home and liquidating retirement accounts. AARP recommends victims research investments, ignore unsolicited messages, use reverse image searches, and work with certified financial advisers to protect themselves from these schemes.

Two elderly widows in Graves County, Kentucky lost approximately $320,000 combined to scammers using emotional manipulation tactics, including a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes scam and fake emergency requests. The Graves County Sheriff's Office warns that scammers target vulnerable seniors on social media and through phone calls, using realistic scenarios to convince victims to wire money, and recommends that families have conversations with elderly relatives about recognizing scams and contact law enforcement immediately if suspicious contact occurs.

Hardik Jayantilal Patel, 37, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for leading a money laundering operation that supported an international telemarketing fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans from March through November 2019. Operating from Kentucky, Patel coordinated with "runners" who picked up hundreds of cash-filled packages mailed by victims across multiple states after scammers impersonating government officials convinced them they were under investigation; Patel and his conspirators caused significant harm to 85 identified victims, with Patel ordered to pay $3,203,478 in restitution. The case involved seven total defendants sentenced, with co-conspirators receiving

A 34-year-old Dominican Republic citizen, Luis Alfonso Rodriguez, was arrested and federally charged with orchestrating a grandparent scam that targeted families across western Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Kentucky between December 2024 and March 2025. Rodriguez allegedly impersonated grandchildren in distress and convinced victims to withdraw thousands of dollars in cash, which they handed to rideshare drivers who unknowingly delivered the funds to him; victims lost tens of thousands of dollars total, with funds later wired to an unidentified person in the Dominican Republic. The FBI urges potential victims to report incidents to its Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

A former pastor in Crofton, Kentucky, Marvin Upton, was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison for defrauding an elderly parishioner with dementia between 2013 and 2016 through bank fraud, and for filing false tax returns that concealed the fraudulent income. Upton was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to the victim's estate and $222,037 to the IRS. The case was prosecuted under the Department of Justice's National Elder Justice Task Force as part of broader efforts to combat financial exploitation of seniors.

Marvin Upton, a former pastor at Crofton Pentecostal Church in Kentucky, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison for defrauding an elderly congregation member with dementia between 2013 and 2016, along with filing false tax returns to conceal the fraudulent income. Upton was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to the victim's estate and $222,037 to the IRS.

Marvin Upton, a 58-year-old pastor in Crofton, Kentucky, was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison for defrauding an elderly parishioner with dementia between 2013 and 2016, along with filing false tax returns to conceal the scheme. Upton was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to the victim's estate and $222,037 to the IRS, and the case was prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force's efforts to combat financial exploitation of older adults.

Lisa Rossopoulos, 59, of Kew Gardens Hills, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for operating a nationwide elder fraud scheme targeting senior citizens through impersonation of government officials and companies. Between February and July 2023, she fraudulently obtained approximately $548,000 from a 92-year-old Hawaii resident and an 83-year-old Kentucky man through coordinated phone scams claiming their identities were stolen, with the victims wiring money to bank accounts under Rossopoulos' name that she promptly emptied. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison.

Lise Rossopoulos, 59, of Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for orchestrating a nationwide elder fraud scheme that defrauded senior citizens of over $500,000. The scam involved co-conspirators impersonating government officials (FTC and Amazon representatives) who convinced victims to wire money to bank accounts in Queens and upstate New York that Rossopoulos controlled, with funds withdrawn immediately after each transfer. Two identified victims—a 92-year-old from Hawaii and an 83-year-old from Kentucky—lost $446,000 and $101,980 respectively between February and July

Lise Rossopoulos, 59, of Queens, New York, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for her role in a nationwide scam that defrauded elderly victims of over $500,000. Working with a co-conspirator posing as a government official, Rossopoulos received wire transfers into bank accounts in her name from victims who were falsely told their identities had been stolen, including a 92-year-old Hawaii woman who lost $446,000 and an 83-year-old Kentucky man who lost nearly $102,000. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

In 2023, the FBI received 908 elder fraud complaints in Kentucky totaling over $12 million in losses, with gold and precious metals scams on the rise. Scammers impersonate government officials to pressure elderly victims into converting their savings to gold, often failing to deliver the promised metals; one Kentucky woman lost $113,000 in such a scheme. The FBI advises that legitimate government agencies would never call to pressure gold purchases and recommends researching dealers and reporting suspected fraud to the FBI's Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.

AARP Kentucky is hosting free "Scam Jam" educational events and document shredding in Bowling Green (September 30) and Henderson County (October 3) to combat rising fraud, which the FTC estimates affected $137.4 billion in 2022 compared to only $9 billion reported. The events aim to educate consumers about recognizing and avoiding scams, with research showing that knowing about specific scams reduces engagement risk by 80%, particularly important given that nearly two-thirds of fraud victims experience serious health or emotional impacts.

A 74-year-old Kentucky woman lost $179,000 to a federal impersonation and gold coin scam in January 2024 after receiving fraudulent emails from scammers posing as the Social Security Administration and Inspector General's Office, threatening her with prison unless she paid money for investigation purposes. The scammer convinced her to purchase gold coins in person at a Lexington bank parking lot, after which he disappeared with her life savings; the traumatized victim attempted suicide but is now recovering, and her grandson is sharing their story to raise awareness and help prevent similar crimes.

A 74-year-old Kentucky woman lost her entire life savings of $180,000 in a gold coin scam after receiving a phone call from someone impersonating a Social Security Administration employee who claimed she was under fraud investigation. The scammer convinced her to drain her savings, purchase gold coins, and hand them off to a courier in a bank parking lot; after realizing the fraud, the emotional trauma led her to attempt suicide, and she remains hospitalized in critical condition. The FBI confirms a rising trend of government impersonation and precious metals scams targeting seniors, with Kentucky alone reporting 908 elder fraud complaints totaling over $12 million in 2023.

A 74-year-old woman in Danville, Kentucky lost her life savings of $179,000 to a combined federal impersonation and gold coin scam in January-February 2024. The scammer posed as the Social Security Administration and Inspector General's Office, threatening her with prison and fraud charges, then convinced her to meet in person at a Lexington bank where she exchanged cash for gold coins that were never returned. The victim became so distraught that she attempted suicide; her grandson is sharing the story to raise awareness and help the FBI investigation.

Experts are warning the public about romance scams, particularly ahead of Valentine's Day, where scammers impersonate celebrities or create fake personas to build relationships and request money from victims. Red flags include quick declarations of love, requests for money, reluctance to meet in person, and insistence on communication only through dating platforms. According to the Federal Trade Commission, imposter scams were Kentucky's most common fraud type in 2024, with scammers stealing $2.7 billion nationally in that year; financial experts recommend consulting trusted friends or bank representatives when uncertain about suspicious requests.

An educational presentation at the Adair County Extension Office by Shellie A. May from Kentucky's Office of Senior Protection addressed identity theft prevention for seniors. The presentation explained how identity theft occurs (through data breaches, phishing, and physical theft), identified common tactics (dumpster diving, mail theft, password compromise), and provided protective measures including regular credit monitoring, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and statement review. Consumers can report scams to the Kentucky Attorney General's office at ag.ky.gov/scams or 1-888-432-9257.

Kentucky's Administrative Office of the Courts launched a new webpage to help residents identify and report payment scams, particularly those falsely claiming unpaid arrest warrants or missed jury duty. The resource provides educational materials including scam tactic videos, county-specific jury service information, and fraud reporting contacts to help Kentuckians protect themselves from these schemes.

Members of Versailles Presbyterian Church in central Kentucky received fraudulent emails impersonating interim Pastor Katherine Redmond requesting gift cards for hospice patients. The scam targeted church congregants' charitable impulses, but the pastor quickly alerted attendees to block the scammer's email address, and no victims were reported. The Better Business Bureau warned that gift card requests—particularly those claiming emergency situations—are a common scam tactic because gift cards are non-recoverable.

An uptick in jury duty scams has been reported across multiple U.S. locations, where scammers impersonate court officials or police officers and threaten victims with fines or arrest for allegedly missing jury duty, demanding immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers. Incidents have been documented in Elkhart County, Indiana and Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with authorities emphasizing that legitimate courts communicate about jury duty through official mail only and never solicit payments or personal information by phone or email. Citizens should verify caller claims independently, avoid immediate payments, and report suspicious calls to local law enforcement or the court clerk's office.

Jennifer Lynn Horton, 49, of Kentucky, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing over $1.1 million from her employer, a family-owned contracting company in Indiana, between 2016 and 2022. Using her position as office manager, Horton inflated her salary by $515,000, fraudulently added her husband to payroll for $107,000, redirected customer credit card payments totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars to her personal account, and misused company credit cards for personal purchases including vehicles and a house. She concealed the theft by manipulating payroll data and accounting records, and was ordered to forfeit four vehicles an

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky presented 2024 Law Enforcement Excellence Awards to ten federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals for their outstanding work on priority cases including violent crime, drug trafficking, elder fraud, COVID fraud, government fraud, public corruption, and child exploitation. United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV recognized these officers and organizations for their dedicated investigative efforts that contributed to successful federal prosecutions.

A spoofing scam targeting bank customers is costing Americans millions annually, with scammers using caller ID spoofing to impersonate banks and convince victims to transfer money to prepaid debit cards under the guise of fraudulent account activity. One Kentucky woman lost nearly $10,000 after transferring funds to a prepaid card based on a fraudulent call claiming to be from her bank. The Better Business Bureau advises recipients of suspicious messages to avoid clicking links or sharing account information, as transferred funds are typically irretrievable.

A 77-year-old Stuart, Florida retiree nearly lost $10,000 in a phone scam where a caller impersonating a customer service representative instructed him to withdraw cash and mail it via UPS; his caregiver alerted police who intercepted the package in Louisville, Kentucky, and recovered all the money. A bank security expert emphasized that tellers should question elderly customers about large cash withdrawals and that banks should implement verification procedures with family members before releasing substantial sums. The victim warns other seniors to remain vigilant, and recommends setting up checks and balances with banks to prevent similar fraud.

During election season, scammers exploit heightened political emotions through donation fraud via emails, phone calls, and social media. A west Kentucky resident reported receiving 10-20 fraudulent political donation emails daily from imposters posing as campaigns, though she avoided falling victim. The Better Business Bureau warns voters to avoid unsolicited links, pushy requests for personal information, phony donation calls offering rewards, and pop-up donations on social media—and advises researching campaigns, avoiding rushing donations, and never sharing sensitive data like Social Security numbers or birth dates with survey takers.

Scams and fraud have surged nationwide, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting scams more than doubled in 2020, Kentucky alone losing $13 million in 2021, and elder fraud reports to the FBI increasing 62% between 2020-2021. Elderly residents are disproportionately affected but often fail to report incidents due to embarrassment, while criminals employ evolving tactics including skimming devices, robocalls (60% of U.S. calls in 2022), phishing emails, and business impersonation schemes. Detective Dean Hutchinson recommends verifying caller identities independently, ignoring unsolicited bank emails, and being cautious with payment apps

Stephanie Collins, a 57-year-old pharmacist in Corbin, Kentucky, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for defrauding Medicare and Medicaid by submitting false claims for medications never dispensed to patients and billing for expensive diabetic test strips while providing cheaper alternatives. The scheme caused approximately $730,056 in fraudulent reimbursements, and Collins was ordered to pay full restitution and serve five years of supervised release upon completion of her sentence.

A senior couple in Boone County, Kentucky nearly fell victim to a cryptocurrency scam initiated by a pop-up message on their computer that directed them to call a number claiming their accounts were compromised. When they called the provided number, scammers instructed them to withdraw money and convert it to Bitcoin at a local vape shop, but an alert vape shop employee and the couple's own suspicions prompted them to contact the sheriff's office before completing the transaction. The Boone County Sheriff's Office successfully recovered the couple's funds, with deputies noting that recovering money in such scams is exceptionally rare.

Irene Fike, a 56-year-old Kentucky woman, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after defrauding a victim of over $363,000 between 2018 and 2022. While employed at an accounting firm and later hired as an independent contractor, Fike exploited her access to the victim's financial accounts to make unauthorized purchases and transfer funds to her personal credit card, falsifying financial records to conceal the scheme. She was ordered to pay $405,867.08 in restitution and will serve 85 percent of her sentence followed by three years of supervised release.

Willie D. Watts, 42, of Clarksville, was sentenced to eighteen months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $125,753.90 in federal benefits from 2014 to 2021 by falsely claiming her three children lived with her and were eligible for Section 8 housing vouchers, SNAP, Social Security Survivors benefits, and Medicaid. Watts also concealed ownership of a house and rental income, and had previously committed nearly identical fraud in Kentucky (2011-2013), stealing over $30,000 before continuing the scheme in Indiana despite her Kentucky conviction.

A Northern Kentucky man lost nearly $300,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a woman on a dating site following his wife's death, highlighting the growing prevalence of romance scams that exploit vulnerable individuals seeking online connections. The article features testimony from a reformed Nigerian scammer who admitted to defrauding victims of thousands of dollars, and emphasizes key prevention strategies including video call verification, trusting gut instincts, and using identity verification services before engaging with online romantic interests.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman released a revised 2024 Elder Abuse Prosecution Manual—a comprehensive 256-page resource first published in 2006—to guide prosecutors in handling cases involving personal, financial, and medical abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults. The manual is being distributed to all 57 Commonwealth's Attorney Offices and 120 County Attorney Offices across Kentucky, reflecting the state's recognition of elder abuse as a serious issue, with the AG's Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control receiving nearly 1,300 referrals in 2023.

Kentucky's Attorney General's Office released an updated 2024 Elder Abuse Prosecution Manual to be distributed to all local prosecutor offices, providing best practices for prosecuting cases involving personal, financial, and medical abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults. The office received nearly 1,300 elder abuse referrals in 2023, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem in the state. The manual represents an effort to enhance prosecution capabilities and protect Kentucky seniors from abuse and exploitation.