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Two scammers, Kenneth Akpieyi and Emuobosan Emmanuella Hall, were sentenced to over three decades in prison for orchestrating a romance fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable widows over 60, stealing nearly $10 million across multiple victims. The victims, including a 77-year-old woman from Louisiana who lost over $100,000, were approached through social media by the fraudsters who posed as romantic interests. To protect yourself, be cautious of online romantic relationships that quickly request money or financial information, verify identities through video calls, and never send money to people you haven't met in person—especially if they claim to need emergency funds or have investment opportunities.

# Scam Summary A Louisiana woman's stepmom fell victim to a phone scam when someone impersonating an AT&T representative convinced her to purchase 10 iPhones across multiple stores, promising reimbursement and free devices that never arrived, leaving her with an $8,500 bill. After months of promised investigation with no resolution and her service being cut off for non-payment, AT&T only responded after the case was escalated to local news. To protect yourself, verify any unexpected offers directly by calling your provider's official customer service number rather than following instructions from unsolicited callers, and be suspicious of deals requiring you to purchase expensive devices upfront with promises of reimbursement.

# Scam Summary Louisiana residents are being targeted by fraudulent text messages impersonating the "Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles" and threatening legal action over unpaid traffic violations to pressure victims into clicking malicious links or sharing personal information. The scam is particularly dangerous because Louisiana's actual agency—the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV)—never sends unsolicited payment demands via text. To protect yourself, ignore suspicious texts, never click unknown links or share personal information, and verify any official communication by contacting state agencies directly through their official channels.

# Grandparent Scam Summary An elderly Louisiana resident lost over $13,000 in a "grandparent scam" where a caller impersonated her grandson, claiming he was in jail and needed bond money, then a female accomplice posed as a bail bond courier to collect the cash in person. Police warn this scam specifically targets seniors by exploiting family bonds and creating false urgency, and they're appealing to the public to help identify the suspects. Elderly individuals should verify any urgent requests by calling family members directly at known numbers and never give cash to strangers, even if they claim to represent law enforcement or bail bond services.

A Louisiana man has been charged with fraud for allegedly running a "warrant scam" where he posed as a law enforcement officer and tricked a Utah victim into sending $2,900 through Apple Pay by claiming the victim had missed jury duty and faced arrest. Warrant scams have become increasingly common, with scammers calling people, demanding immediate payment to avoid jail time, and then disappearing with the money. To protect yourself, remember that legitimate law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone or through apps—if you receive such a call, hang up and contact your local police department directly.

# Article Summary U.S. authorities in Louisiana recovered $200,000 from scammers who targeted elderly residents through Bitcoin ATM fraud, using fake claims about hacked bank accounts and pornography charges to pressure victims into sending money. A new Louisiana law helped thwart these efforts by requiring Bitcoin ATMs to display warnings that government officials will never request cash deposits. Elderly residents should be cautious of unsolicited calls claiming account problems, verify such claims directly with their bank, and listen to family members' warnings rather than following callers' instructions to use Bitcoin ATMs.

Louisiana has enacted a new law to protect elderly residents from cryptocurrency scams that have cost seniors over $200,000, after criminals posed as government and bank officials to pressure victims into depositing cash into Bitcoin ATMs. The law requires ATMs to display prominent scam warnings, implements a $3,000 daily deposit limit, and includes a mandatory 72-hour waiting period before transactions finalize—giving victims time to verify legitimacy and authorities time to intervene. If you receive unsolicited calls from officials demanding cryptocurrency payments, hang up and call your bank or local authorities directly using a phone number you find independently.

# Cryptocurrency Scam Summary A new Louisiana law is helping seniors recover from cryptocurrency scams that targeted at least four elderly victims through elaborate phone schemes claiming their bank accounts were hacked and threatened them with arrest charges unless they paid thousands of dollars via Bitcoin ATMs. The scammers exploited the machines' simplicity, but the new law now requires Bitcoin ATMs to display warnings that government officials will never request cash deposits, includes on-screen alerts during transactions, and imposes a $3,000 daily deposit limit with a 72-hour waiting period to give victims time to recover their money. Seniors should be skeptical of unsolicited calls claiming account issues or legal threats, verify directly with their banks, and ignore pressure to use Bitcoin ATMs or other cryptocurrency methods for payments.

Over $200,000 in cryptocurrency was forfeited by a federal court in a multi-state elder fraud case, with funds seized from scammers who targeted at least four elderly victims (ages 70+) across Louisiana, Texas, and Minnesota. The victims were manipulated through fake emergencies—including threats of arrest and claims of compromised devices—into withdrawing cash and converting it to Bitcoin at ATMs, which they then sent to the scammers' accounts. The recovered funds will now be returned to the victims, and authorities emphasize that seniors should never convert cash to cryptocurrency based on urgent calls or messages, especially those threatening legal consequences or device security issues.

The "Phantom Hacker" scam has stolen over $1 billion from Americans since 2024, primarily targeting seniors age 60+ in Louisiana and nationwide. The sophisticated three-phase operation uses impersonators posing as tech support, bank officials, and government employees to gain access to victims' computers and financial accounts, often resulting in complete loss of retirement and savings accounts. Scammers now employ AI technology to personalize attacks through social media analysis, making their schemes more convincing.

Louisiana residents are warned of a summer surge in scams including vacation rental fraud, AI voice cloning impersonations, toll violation/DMV phishing texts, and jury duty scams. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics—from fake travel listings requiring upfront wire transfers to AI-generated voices claiming relatives are in emergencies—to steal identities and drain bank accounts. Authorities recommend victims verify requests through official channels, resist immediate action, and never provide personal information to unsolicited contacts.

Louisiana State Police and the Office of Motor Vehicles warned residents of a fraudulent text message scam claiming recipients have outstanding traffic tickets and must pay fees or face prosecution. The official agencies clarified they do not send threatening text messages or emails and advised recipients to delete suspicious messages, avoid clicking links, and report scams to the FTC rather than providing personal information or payment.

Louisiana residents are being targeted by scam text messages impersonating the Office of Motor Vehicles demanding payment for traffic violations, along with increased scam calls falsely claiming to be from law enforcement and the Department of Justice demanding money under threat of arrest. Authorities advise residents not to click links or share personal information in unsolicited messages, to verify communications directly with official sources rather than responding to the message itself, and to be aware that scammers use "spoofing" technology to make fraudulent calls appear legitimate.

A nationwide health care fraud takedown resulted in 324 defendants charged across the United States for schemes involving over $14.6 billion in false billings and illegal drug diversion, with authorities seizing over $245 million in assets. Four defendants were charged in the Eastern District of Louisiana, including the co-owner of a diagnostic laboratory who allegedly defrauded Medicare of approximately $4.4 million through over $30 million in false genetic testing claims, and a physician who billed Medicare approximately $24 million for medically unnecessary genetic testing. These schemes targeted Medicare and programs serving elderly and disabled populations through kickback schemes and fraudulent billing practices.

A resurfacing text message scam falsely claims recipients owe Louisiana state traffic ticket fees and directs them to click a suspicious link for payment. The Louisiana State Police and governor's office warn that the state Department of Motor Vehicles never collects fees via text message, and law enforcement agencies across the state are actively sharing alerts about this years-old fraud scheme.

The Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana warns of a rising surge in employment scams involving fraudulent text messages and emails impersonating legitimate companies, which promise quick, flexible, high-paying work to job seekers. Scammers typically request upfront payments or banking information and direct victims to communicate via WhatsApp or Telegram. Job seekers are advised to verify companies through official websites only, never pay upfront fees, and report suspicious offers to the BBB ScamTracker or FTC.

Fraudulent text messages impersonating Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles are circulating among state residents, claiming recipients have unpaid traffic tickets and threatening vehicle registration suspension and prosecution. Officials advise recipients not to click links or share personal information via these unsolicited texts, and to report suspected scam messages to reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Louisiana residents lose millions annually to identity theft, with the state ranking eighth nationally at 350 cases per 100,000 residents, costing nearly $47 million in fraud losses in 2023. Common methods include database breaches, phishing, malware, and dumpster diving, though experts recommend setting up fraud alerts, credit freezes, and responding quickly to suspicious activity to prevent theft, particularly during peak spending seasons like summer travel. AARP Louisiana and Georges Media Group are partnering on a June 26 town hall to educate residents about local scams and fraud prevention strategies.

Door-to-door solar panel scams in northwest Louisiana have victimized residents with high-pressure sales tactics, leaving some liable for over $40,000 in fraudulent loan repayments for units marketed as "free." Fraud is also evolving to include online scams such as phishing emails, impersonation of law enforcement and government agencies via phone and text, and cryptocurrency and gift card fraud, with Louisiana experiencing nearly $47 million in fraud losses in 2023. Experts recommend protective measures including posting no-soliciting signs and avoiding clicking unknown links, answering unfamiliar calls, or engaging with unrecognized communications.

Tracie L. Mixon of Hammond, Louisiana was sentenced to two years in prison on May 27, 2025, for making false statements to obtain a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan under the CARES Act. Mixon falsely claimed on an SBA form in February 2021 that she had no prior federal fraud convictions, despite having previously pleaded guilty to student loan fraud and mail fraud involving stolen identities. She was ordered to pay $31,000 in restitution and faces three years of supervised release.

Gina Martinez, an outreach representative from the Louisiana Department of Justice, presented to the Bossier City Lions Club on elder fraud targeting seniors in Louisiana, highlighting ten red flags including pressure tactics, requests for personal information, and too-good-to-be-true offers. Martinez warned that scammers are increasingly using sophisticated technology, including AI-powered voice cloning, to impersonate trusted individuals like grandchildren. She emphasized that awareness and education for seniors, families, and community members is the best defense, and encouraged reporting suspected fraud to the Louisiana Department of Justice or local law enforcement.

A 69-year-old Philadelphia woman nearly fell victim to a sophisticated tech support scam in which fraudsters posed as Norton antivirus, Microsoft, and her bank, threatening her with arrest and claiming hackers had transferred $18,000 to Russian accounts unless she purchased cryptocurrency. She avoided losing money after recalling that a friend had lost $800,000 to a similar scam and hung up the phone. Experts note that artificial intelligence, dark web data access, and lack of federal oversight have made financial scams increasingly believable and effective, with Americans losing between $23.7 billion and $158.3 billion to such schemes in 2023-2024.

Rachel Watts Sanders, a 40-year-old mail contractor from Louisiana, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and mail theft after stealing over 40 checks from U.S. mail, forging endorsements, and depositing them into her personal bank account. She faces up to 20 years imprisonment for wire fraud and 5 years for mail theft, plus potential fines of up to $250,000 per count. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is alerting residents to a text message scam in which fraudsters impersonate the OMV and claim recipients owe toll penalty fees, with the goal of stealing personal information and charging unauthorized fees. The OMV does not collect toll violations via text or email and recommends residents delete suspicious messages, report them to reportfraud.ftc.gov, and avoid clicking links or sharing personal information with unverified sources. Residents are advised to use only the official OMV website (expresslane.org) for online vehicle services to avoid unofficial sites that may collect personal data and charge excessive fees.

**Educational Presentation on Elder Fraud Prevention** Sharon Creque of the Louisiana Attorney General's office presented to the Zachary Rotary Club on April 24 about the growing threat of elder fraud, which includes fake IRS calls, Medicare fraud, and identity theft targeting seniors through sophisticated scams. Key prevention measures include never sharing personal or financial information on unsolicited calls, hanging up on suspicious callers, using caller ID to block unknowns, and avoiding unfamiliar email links that may contain malware. The presentation emphasized that many cases go unreported due to victim embarrassment or confusion, and encouraged community awareness and reporting through the state attorney general's office.

A 75-year-old Louisiana woman fell victim to a Social Security Administration impersonation scam after receiving fraudulent mail claiming she needed to submit personal information by March 28 to maintain her benefits. The fake letters, which contained grammatical errors and inconsistent fonts, prompted her sister to warn others after discovering the scam. According to the Better Business Bureau, seniors aged 65+ are frequent targets of these scams, with over 260,000 people reporting Social Security-related fraud last year, making it the most impersonated government agency by scammers.

A 75-year-old Louisiana woman fell victim to a Social Security scam after receiving official-looking mail claiming she needed to submit personal information by a deadline to keep her benefits; the fraudulent letters contained her Social Security number but had telltale signs of forgery including grammatical errors and inconsistent fonts. The Social Security Administration reports that scammers impersonate it more than any other government agency, with over 260,000 fraud reports last year, primarily targeting seniors aged 65 and older through mail and phone calls. Experts advise verifying any SSA correspondence and note that the legitimate SSA will not call or email citizens unsolicited.

A woman in Baton Rouge, Louisiana lost $1,400 in a phone scam where imposters falsely claimed to be from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office and threatened her with arrest for a missed court appearance, demanding she pay via Bitcoin to avoid immediate arrest. Law enforcement confirmed multiple victims fell for this scheme, with another victim losing nearly $7,000, and officials emphasized that legitimate law enforcement never demands immediate payment over the phone or threatens arrest without proper legal procedures.

Scammers nationwide are sending text messages claiming recipients owe unpaid tolls through services like E-Z Pass, SunPass, FastTrak, and GeauxPass, directing victims to fraudulent websites that mimic official government sites to steal personal and financial information. This "smishing" scam affects thousands of people including those in states without toll roads, with red flags including suspicious sender phone numbers, misspelled URLs, and threats of late fees or legal action. The Louisiana Department of Transportation advises never clicking links in unsolicited toll texts and instead calling official customer service lines directly to verify account status.

This educational article identifies New Jersey as the safest U.S. state for retirees based on FBI data analysis, citing low violent and property crime rates, minimal senior involvement in fatal accidents, and strong healthcare access. The article also lists nine additional safe states for retirement (New York, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, Alabama) and warns against five states with higher risks of elder fraud, property crime, and scams (Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico).

A 77-year-old blind military veteran in Opelousas, Louisiana was financially exploited by his caregiver, Marvin Washington (63), who illegally collected the victim's $1,408-monthly VA benefits and accessed his financial account without authorization, resulting in the veteran being denied necessary rehabilitation care. Washington was charged with exploitation of the infirmed and access device fraud, while his wife Mary Washington was charged as an accessory after the fact; both suspects turned themselves in on March 10th. The article advises anyone suspecting veteran financial exploitation to report it to the VA Office of Inspector General at (800) 488-8244 and to contact local authorities and Adult Protective Services as

A Louisiana woman discovered her inherited family property had been fraudulently sold for $45,000 when she attempted to pay taxes on the lot in December; criminals used identity theft with a forged signature, stolen notary stamp, and fake witnesses to impersonate her and transfer the deed to a company. Although the $45,000 payment was frozen and reversed, Batiste continues fighting to restore her legal title to the property, which has been in her family for over 200 years. Investigators believe this case may be connected to an international crime ring, as similar real estate identity theft schemes are becoming increasingly common across the nation.

Two Romanian nationals, Andrei Fagaras (35) and Tamas Kolozsvari (30), were indicted in January 2025 on three counts of access device fraud for possessing credit and debit card skimmers at three locations in Louisiana in November 2024. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 15 years imprisonment, supervised release, and fines up to $250,000 per count.

A Lafayette, Louisiana woman lost over $60,000 in a romance scam involving deepfake technology on Threads, where a scammer impersonated Elon Musk using AI-generated voice and video in fake video chats. The victim was manipulated into purchasing gift cards at multiple locations and eventually sending thousands of dollars after being promised a Tesla and falsely told a FedEx truck had crashed. Authorities could not recover the funds since they were voluntarily sent, and experts urge people to verify suspicious online relationships and watch for warning signs in loved ones.

A Louisiana woman lost approximately $60,000 in a catfishing scam where someone used artificial intelligence to impersonate Elon Musk on the Threads platform and subsequently in video conversations. The scammer convinced her to purchase gift cards (which could not be traced or retrieved) by promising her a Tesla and later requesting money for pizza and fabricated truck damage fees. Home Depot employees in multiple Louisiana locations became suspicious when the victim repeatedly purchased gift cards and refused to sell them to her, helping halt the fraud.

A Slidell, Louisiana chiropractor, Dennis Michael Peyroux, pled guilty in January 2025 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud after billing Medicare approximately $3.3 million (reimbursed $3.2 million) for over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits that were not requested or eligible for reimbursement. The scheme involved purchasing Medicare beneficiary information and fabricated recordings, misusing a former nurse practitioner's credentials as the referring provider, and billing for thousands of false claims over a six-month period starting in November 2022. Peyroux agreed to pay $3.2 million in restitution, with over $

Violent crime against seniors has surged 331% over the past decade, with property crime up 79% between 2013 and 2023, while seniors collectively lost a record $3.4 billion to scams in 2023. A comprehensive safety analysis examining crime rates, healthcare access, falls, traffic fatalities, and fraud across all 50 states found New Jersey to be the safest retirement destination, followed by New York, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Nebraska, while western states dominated the least safe rankings.

The Louisiana Attorney General's Office hosted a free public seminar on fraud awareness in Natchitoches on November 20, led by North Louisiana Outreach Manager Laura Seabaugh. The educational event covered how to recognize different types of fraud, identify red flags in online scams, protect personal and financial information, and respond if victimized by fraud.

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Meta is developing new security features for Facebook and Instagram, including facial recognition technology and video selfie verification, to protect users from account hacks, extortion, and celeb-baiting scams (where fraudsters use celebrity likenesses to trick users into sharing personal information or money). The technology will allow locked-out users to recover their accounts faster and will be rolled out to Louisiana users in the coming weeks, with facial data used only for verification purposes and not stored in databases.

AARP Louisiana hosted an "Unmasking Fraud" educational event with nearly 150 attendees to equip older adults with knowledge to recognize and prevent scams, featuring expert speaker Paul Greenwood, a stakeholder roundtable, and resource fair. The Louisiana Attorney General's Office received the inaugural Fraud Fighter of the Year Award for its fraud-prevention efforts, and the event was broadcast on AARP Louisiana's Facebook, YouTube, and The Advocate's platforms to reach wider audiences. The event aims to inform future legislative solutions and strengthen Louisiana's protections against the fastest-growing threat to the state's aging population.

Louisiana residents over age 50 are nearly six times more likely to be targeted by scams, with older Americans losing approximately $3 billion to fraud between 2019-2020. Scammers exploit this demographic because they hold 85% of the nation's wealth, have higher credit limits, and tend to be more trusting, with nearly 60% of elder financial exploitation cases perpetrated by their own adult children. The article recommends that family members and friends educate older relatives about current scams, encourage reporting of attempted fraud, and advise contacting local law enforcement if victimized.

AARP of Louisiana presented "Unmasking Fraud," an educational event featuring AARP Fraud Ambassador Paul Greenwood, who shared fraud prevention strategies and resources aimed at protecting Louisiana residents from elder abuse and scams. The event focused on key approaches to help seniors recognize and defend against fraudulent schemes.

Raj Vinodchandra Patel, a 34-year-old New Hampshire resident, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for his role in a wire fraud scheme targeting elderly residents. Patel served as a courier for an operation originating from India that used fake pop-up messages and impersonated federal agents to convince victims their Social Security numbers were compromised, then instructed them to purchase gold bullion for "safekeeping"; he was caught on October 7, 2023, when the FBI conducted a sting operation after an Alexandria, Louisiana victim reported the fraud, resulting in an intended loss of approximately $514,000 across multiple victims.

A former Tangipahoa Parish jail nurse, 48-year-old Tonya Denise Brown, was indicted on multiple federal charges including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and perjury. Brown allegedly defrauded victims through four schemes: falsely promising assistance with criminal prosecutions while working at the jail, defrauding HUD-funded disaster relief programs (Restore Louisiana and FEMA rental assistance) by claiming she could obtain benefits for money, using a notary's identity in the rental assistance scheme, and illegally selling prescription drugs online. If convicted, Brown faces up to 30 years in prison depending on the charges.

Tonya Denise Brown, a 48-year-old licensed practical nurse at Tangipahoa Parish Jail, was indicted on nine federal counts in September 2024 for defrauding vulnerable populations. Her schemes included soliciting money under false promises of assistance with criminal cases and disaster benefits (targeting hurricane victims), misusing a notary's identity to defraud FEMA rental assistance and HUD's Restore Louisiana programs, and illegally selling controlled substances including oxycodone online. Additionally, she was charged with making false statements to the FBI and lying to a judge, with potential sentences ranging from 5 to 30 years depending on the charges.

Georges Media Group and AARP Louisiana are hosting "Unmasking Fraud," a free public educational event on October 15 in New Orleans featuring AARP Fraud Ambassador Paul Greenwood, a retired prosecutor with 22 years of experience leading elder abuse prosecution, along with local law enforcement and legal experts who will discuss fraud prevention tactics and resources. The event includes a resource fair, stakeholder roundtable, and will be livestreamed, with AARP reporting that an estimated 141.5 million U.S. adults have been targeted by fraud, emphasizing the need for community-wide prevention efforts and the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline at 877

Kristen Levin, a Shreveport, Louisiana resident, was indicted on September 26, 2024, on three counts of wire fraud for stealing approximately $589,729 from her employer (Company A) between 2015 and 2020 using fraudulent invoices for products the company never received. If convicted, Levin faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release.

A phishing scam originating from Russia targeted Southeast Louisiana residents with text messages falsely claiming unpaid toll fees of $3.75 and directing victims to a fake website designed to steal personal information including names, phone numbers, addresses, and credit card numbers. The Kenner Police Department, working with state and federal agencies, obtained a court order to seize the fraudulent website and shut down the operation, though the exact number of victims remains unknown.

Kenner Police shut down a phishing scam website (geauxpass.info) that mimicked Louisiana's legitimate toll payment site (geauxpass.com) and targeted residents with text messages demanding $3.75 toll payments. The scammers, operating from a Russian server, were primarily seeking personal and credit card information rather than the toll amount itself. Police advised that government agencies never request payment or personal information via text messages or online links, and legitimate toll payments are only processed through official U.S. Mail communications.