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Maine is poised to stop collecting income tax on money stolen from victims of certain types of scams under legislation that moved forward Thursday with strong bipartisan support. LD 714 would align s...

Older Mainers are less likely than younger people to fall victim to scams, but when they do, the financial losses are often much greater. Older Mainers are less likely than younger people to fall vic...

Does a financial adviser have a fiduciary duty to protect a client from being scammed out of their retirement savings? Or can the adviser “simply watch their diminished-capacity client walk off a fin...

By the People, for the People News Justices examine limits of adviser's responsibilities and red flags of diminished capacity in high-profile case. Mar. 3, 2026 at 11:19pm Got story updates? Submi...

People over 50 are particularly vulnerable to fraud, with over $11 million reported in scams during just a nine-month period in 2025, according to a presentation by Coastal Maine Regional Broadband and local police. Most scams involve impostors contacting victims through email, text, or phone with urgent messages designed to cloud judgment, sometimes building fake relationships over time to gain trust. To protect yourself, experts recommend verifying unexpected contacts directly with the person, avoiding clicking links or sharing passwords, watching for language errors and mismatched email addresses, and declining friend requests from people already in your network.

Newly released Department of Justice files reveal that deceased billionaire Jeffrey Epstein maintained multiple accounts on Match.com in 2012, years after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, and appeared to match with women in their early 20s on the platform. The discovery raises serious questions about dating app safety protocols, as Match Group—the parent company of Tinder, Hinge, and other dating services—apparently failed to prevent a registered sex offender from using their platforms, similar to recent cases where serial rapists remained active on these apps despite being reported by users. Users should be cautious when using dating apps, verify the authenticity of profiles, and report suspicious behavior immediately, while also advocating for stronger background check requirements and safety measures from major dating platforms.

# Romance Scam Warning Law enforcement in New Hampshire and the broader Northeast are warning residents about romance scams, which have cost over 700 victims approximately $20 million across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Scammers typically target people seeking companionship—especially recent widows—by creating fake online personas, quickly professing love, and then requesting money for emergencies via gift cards or cryptocurrency. Authorities advise people to watch for red flags like refusals to video call or meet in person, and urge victims not to feel ashamed but to reach out to loved ones and law enforcement for help.

# Article Summary A Maine couple lost their $1.3 million life savings in a 2022 scam after the husband liquidated investment accounts based on false claims about a "real estate opportunity" and transferred the money to a fraudulent bitcoin account he thought was SSA-protected. Their wealth management firm, R.M. Davis Inc., is being sued for failing to recognize and prevent the fraud despite employee training on elder financial exploitation warning signs. The case highlights vulnerabilities in financial oversight and underscores the importance of both financial advisers and customers remaining vigilant about suspicious requests, particularly regarding sudden large transfers or investments in unfamiliar assets.

An 80-year-old Maine man and his wife lost $1.3 million in life savings after being scammed into transferring funds to a fake bitcoin account they believed was protected by the Social Security Administration. Their financial adviser at R.M. Davis Inc. liquidated the accounts after Bruce MacMillan mentioned an "exciting real estate opportunity" but failed to intervene despite recognizing red flags commonly associated with elder fraud. The case is now before Maine's highest court to determine whether financial firms have a legal obligation to protect elderly clients from such scams, highlighting gaps in existing protections and the need for greater vigilance from both financial professionals and customers about this growing threat.

# Tech Support Scam Arrest A Texas man was arrested in Maine during an undercover operation targeting an organized tech support scam where fraudsters pose as legitimate tech support representatives to trick victims into giving them computer access and stealing their money or valuables. The scammers typically claim hackers have compromised the victim's accounts, use personal information to appear credible, and convince people to withdraw cash or buy gold under the guise of protecting their assets, with couriers then collecting the valuables. If you receive unsolicited calls about computer problems or hacking threats, hang up and contact your bank or local police directly rather than following the caller's instructions.

AARP Maine offers a free monthly virtual scam-awareness series called "Fraud Watch with Phil and Pam," held via Zoom on the second Thursday of each month for 30 minutes. The October session focuses on cybersecurity and is led by retired journalist Phil Chin and retired educator Pam Partridge, with registration available at states.aarp.org/maine/monthly-fraud-watch.

Maine appointed its first statewide elder justice investigator, Candice Simeoni, to address the high prevalence of crimes targeting seniors—a population that represents one in ten victims of elder crime but rarely reports incidents to police. Simeoni, a 21-year veteran law enforcement officer, will gather data, investigate cases, and educate police and seniors about elder fraud and abuse, with approximately 85 percent of suspects being someone the victim knows and trusts. The $150,000 pilot program, which runs through September 2026, aims to create standardized reporting tools and secure funding for a statewide elder justice task force.

Arizona ranks as the fourth most dangerous state for online dating, with a romance scam rate of 14 per 100,000 users—the highest in the nation—according to a Privacy Journal study. The state also reports elevated rates of fraud, identity theft, and STD reports on dating apps, though it ranks sixth in registered sex offender numbers. Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire are identified as the safest states for online dating.

Andrea Estell Cochran, a 51-year-old from Houston, accepted a plea deal for a multi-state bank fraud scheme in which she used fake passports to impersonate account holders and withdraw thousands of dollars from banks across Washington and Maine between May and August 2024. She faces federal charges including bank fraud, identity theft, and false use of a passport, with potential sentences up to 30 years, plus additional state charges in multiple Washington counties. Her plea hearing is scheduled for August 28, with specific agreement details pending release.

Andrea Estell Cochran, a 51-year-old from Houston, was arrested and charged with federal bank fraud after using forged passports to impersonate account holders and withdraw approximately $11,000 from multiple banks across Washington state and Maine in 2024. She faces up to 30 years in federal prison plus additional state charges, with a plea deal hearing scheduled for August 28, 2025. A separate study by VPNPro found that seniors aged 60 and older across all U.S. states lost significant sums to fraud in 2022, with losses ranging from approximately $3 million to $31 million per state, highlighting the widesprea

Andrea Estell Cochran, a 51-year-old from Houston, was arrested and charged with federal bank fraud after using fake passports to impersonate account holders and withdraw approximately $11,000 from multiple Washington state banks in 2024, with similar attempts in Maine; she faces up to 30 years in prison and state charges across multiple Washington counties. Additionally, a VPNPro study reveals that seniors aged 60 and over across all U.S. states lost substantial sums to fraud in 2022, with per-victim losses ranging from $13,118 to $30,150 depending on the state, highlighting seniors as prime targets for scammers

Charleston Police are investigating five scam cases targeting elderly residents (ages 61-85) who were manipulated into transferring $7,000-$10,000 each via phone calls, with three victims directed to Bitcoin ATMs while scammers remained on the line. The scammers used high-pressure tactics such as claiming relatives were in jail, threatening arrest warrants, or alleging identity theft, and requested payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency. Police advise victims to hang up immediately, avoid sharing personal or financial information, and verify suspicious claims by calling trusted family members or local law enforcement.

The Liberal Democrats called for urgent regulation of YouTube advertising after scams involving deepfakes, impersonated public figures, and fraudulent investment schemes proliferated on the platform with minimal oversight. Notable examples included AI-generated deepfake ads impersonating consumer champion Martin Lewis to promote cryptocurrency schemes, as well as ads for fake products, scam diet pills, and government grant impersonations that remained online for days before removal. The party is urging the UK government to bring YouTube under the same pre-approval and independent enforcement standards as traditional broadcasters, with Ofcom given powers to levy fines and redirect revenues to scam victims.

The FBI Boston Division is warning New Englanders of an increasing surge in scam calls from fraudsters impersonating federal agents and law enforcement officials who use intimidation tactics—threatening arrest, property confiscation, or bank account freezes—to pressure victims into sending money via wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, 778 complaints were filed across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, resulting in total losses of $12.9 million. The FBI emphasizes that legitimate law enforcement agencies do not call threatening arrest or demanding payment, and victims should hang up immediately, contact their financial institutions, and report the scam to local police

Investment scams, particularly those involving cryptocurrency, remained the top cybercrime reported to the Better Business Bureau, with over 80% of reported scams falling into this category and victims losing an average of $5,000. Scammers typically initiate contact via social media, ads, or email, then build trust over weeks or months before offering fake investment opportunities that show false returns until the scammer and funds disappear. The BBB recommends never investing with unknown individuals and verifying investment opportunities through the SEC or FINRA before committing money.

At least 13 Mainers reported receiving text message scams impersonating the Department of Motor Vehicles, using a fake law reference and threatening license suspension to create panic and prompt immediate payment. Maine has seen a significant rise in government impersonation scams, with 98 reported victims in 2024 compared to about 40 annually from 2020-2022, while phishing and spoofing scams jumped from fewer than 100 victims yearly to 357 victims in 2024. Experts recommend acting quickly if scammed by freezing credit with all three major agencies, monitoring financial accounts, and reporting the incident to local police and relevant companies.

A text message scam claiming to be from Maine's Department of Motor Vehicles has resurfaced, falsely threatening to suspend recipients' licenses over unpaid traffic citations and urging them to click a link for payment. Nearly a dozen Maine residents reported receiving the deceptive messages, which include a fake state seal and can be identified as fraudulent by red flags such as Maine not having a DMV (the correct agency name is Bureau of Motor Vehicles) and the state never collecting payments via text. Officials advise recipients not to click links, to delete the message immediately, and to report any financial losses to their bank, while acknowledging that tracking the scammers' source is difficult due to identity-shielding technology.

Maine secured a federal grant to create the nation's first dedicated elder justice investigator position, filled by Kennebuck Police Officer Candice Simeoni, as part of a two-year pilot program to address rising elder fraud and abuse. According to the FBI, one in ten seniors becomes a victim of elder crime, though few report it; Simeoni notes that over 85 percent of elder abuse is perpetrated by someone the victim knows and trusts, often involving financial crimes and cognitive impairment. The investigator will focus on investigations, research, and education to protect Maine's vulnerable senior population.

Three men were arrested following a six-month investigation into a fraud scheme that defrauded over 75 elderly Texans of $1.5 million across North Texas cities including McKinney, Allen, Wylie, and Frisco. Operating under business names Precision Home Pros and Krishnaraj Construction, the suspects approached victims offering to reduce utility bills, then used forged electronic signatures to create unauthorized 20-year loans ranging from $13,000 to $32,500, funneling the funds through shell companies while victims remained liable for repayment. Prakash Krishnaraj (58), Christian Bolding (31), and Eric Ell (

"Revenge on Gold Diggers," a Chinese interactive video game released in June, became a commercial hit by simulating pig-butchering love scams where players protect themselves from women who manipulate men for money, selling over one million copies. The game sparked intense debate in China, with supporters praising its anti-fraud educational value amid rising scam concerns (40,000 telecom fraud cases in 2024), while critics condemned it for reinforcing misogynistic stereotypes and portraying women as inherent schemers rather than addressing systemic vulnerabilities in relationships. The developers changed the Chinese title to "Emotional Anti-Fraud Simulator" but maintained the English title remained "

Czech police reported a 5% decline in cybercrime cases in 2024, with 18,500 incidents investigated—the first decrease since the pandemic began. Online fraud remained the most prevalent cybercrime type, encompassing fake bank alerts, investment scams, and romance fraud, though authorities attributed the overall decline partly to increased awareness campaigns by police, banks, and state institutions.

A mother of eleven was scammed out of $5,250 after accidentally calling a fraudulent number while trying to contact American Airlines about accommodations for her autistic daughter and niece. The scammer, posing as an airline representative, gained her trust by reciting her flight details and credit card information, then offered discounts and refunds that required processing through her cards, ultimately charging her thousands before sending a fake confirmation email from "flight trip" instead of American Airlines. The victim discovered the fraud when her original flights remained unchanged in the American Airlines app and successfully disputed the charges after locking her credit cards.

Thai police arrested 21 people (20 South Korean nationals and one Chinese national) operating an online romance scam from a luxury villa in Chon Buri Province after a tip from the South Korean Embassy revealed a kidnapped victim being forced to work for the operation. Officers discovered scripted investment pitch materials and confiscated electronic devices, indicating the group was part of a larger transnational fraud network. All suspects remained in custody facing legal proceedings under Thai law.

A 48-year-old Miami man was arrested in Standish, Maine after flying to New England to collect money from an elderly woman who had been victimized by a "grandparent scam." The woman had withdrawn $9,500 believing she was paying legal fees for her grandson's arrest, but Bighoro was the in-person collector for the fraud scheme. He faces charges of theft by deception and operating with a suspended license.

A nationwide DMV scam involves cybercriminals texting people claiming they owe fines for traffic violations or unpaid tolls, threatening license revocation or vehicle registration suspension to pressure victims into clicking malicious links or paying money. These phishing scams, reported in Indiana, Ohio, Maine, Texas, and other states, use official-sounding language, fake ordinance codes, and threats of jail time or credit score damage to create urgency, but legitimate DMVs typically only send texts that users have opted into and never request payment or personal information via text.

Online scammers are increasingly targeting pet lovers with fraudulent adoption listings, particularly for high-demand Maine Coon cats and purebred puppies, using fake breeder profiles on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and requesting payment through untraceable methods such as gift cards. One potential victim, Kathy Pierce, nearly paid $500 to a scammer before becoming suspicious when the seller refused a cashier's check and demanded gift card payment instead. Experts advise meeting breeders and animals in person, requesting live video verification if meeting is impossible, being wary of prices significantly below market value (legitimate Maine Coons cost $1,000+), and using local resources like shelters and veterin

Scammers are targeting pet lovers online with fake adoption listings for Maine Coon cats and purebred puppies, often using Facebook and other platforms to solicit upfront fees and demand payment via gift cards or wire transfers. One woman nearly lost $500 to a scammer posing as a breeder before becoming suspicious when the seller refused a cashier's check. The ASPCA recommends purchasing pets through local shelters or veterinarians, meeting breeders in person, and being wary of red flags such as refusal to video call, prices significantly below market value (legitimate Maine Coons cost $1,000+), and requests for additional fees.

A South Carolina couple, Larry Darnell Broadnax Jr. and Charmaine D. Broadnax, were arrested for stealing over $10,000 from a vulnerable adult through unauthorized Cash App transfers and checks; Broadnax Jr., acting as power of attorney, misappropriated funds for personal use while his co-defendant linked her account to the victim's bank account to withdraw an additional $10,000. Both face exploitation of vulnerable adult charges carrying up to five years in prison, with additional charges against each defendant potentially resulting in sentences up to 10 years.

Maine's Senate unanimously approved LD 1445, a bill enabling banks and credit unions to delay transactions for customers age 65 and older when financial exploitation is suspected, while notifying the customer and the state Attorney General. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Anne Carney, allows elders to designate a "trusted contact," defines financial exploitation in state law, and permits financial institutions to share records with law enforcement—measures supported by the Maine Bankers Association and AARP Maine in response to rising scams targeting older adults.

UK fraud losses remained at £1.17 billion in 2024, with 70% of authorised push payment fraud cases originating online through social media and messaging platforms. Investment and romance scams are surging despite fewer reported cases, with victims often losing life savings to sophisticated social engineering tactics that bypass bank warnings. Experts warn that fraudsters are evolving tactics—particularly toward remote purchase fraud—and call for a unified national strategy involving banks, law enforcement, and technology providers to address fraud, which now represents 40% of all UK crime.

AI-powered voice cloning technology is enabling scammers to create convincing replicas of trusted individuals to perpetrate fraud, with common schemes including family emergency scams targeting relatives and "vishing" attacks on businesses (one case involving a quarter-million dollar theft). Since AI voices are now difficult to distinguish from real ones by ear alone, experts recommend focusing on suspicious situations rather than voice authenticity, verifying callers through independent contact methods, and establishing family verification codes to confirm identity during unexpected calls requesting money.

Coinbase disclosed that overseas support staff were bribed by cybercriminals to steal customer data, resulting in a $20 million extortion demand that the company refused to pay. The breach affected less than 1 percent of monthly users and compromised personal information including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, partial Social Security numbers, and account balances, though customer funds remained inaccessible; attackers already used the stolen data in social engineering scams to defraud some customers. Coinbase terminated the involved employees, is reimbursing defrauded customers, and estimates remediation costs between $180-400 million while offering a $20 million reward for information leading to

**Article:** LexisNexis Risk Solutions 2024 Cybercrime Report **Summary:** First-party fraud—including false loan applications, friendly fraud refund claims, and misrepresentation of personal information—became the leading fraud type globally in 2024, rising to 36% of all fraud (up from 15% in 2023), with inflation and rising living costs driving opportunistic attacks against financial institutions and ecommerce providers. Account takeover fraud remained significant at 27% of cases, while scams and authorized push payment fraud declined to 11%, though over three billion bot-driven account takeover attacks were still detected and AI-

An 85-year-old Kansas woman named Shirley Crow died in November 2024 after her family reported suspected neglect by her caretaker to Adult Protective Services on October 5, 2024, alleging missed medications and missed medical appointments. The case remained open eight months later with minimal investigation progress, as the assigned caseworker carried a caseload of 70 other cases; the Kansas Department for Children and Families does not publicly share investigator caseload data, though analysis suggests investigators in some regions handle 12-14 new cases monthly, and proposed federal cuts threaten to further weaken the adult protective services system.

A Luxembourg physiotherapist lost nearly €30,000 to an "alloteur" phone scam in which fraudsters impersonated his bank's fraud department, convinced him his accounts were compromised, and manipulated him into providing login credentials and authorizing account transfers under the guise of recovering stolen funds. The scammers exploited a banking vulnerability by having the victim remove security safeguards, ultimately draining his accounts while the fake advisor provided false reassurances about fund recovery. Though his bank reimbursed €17,000, the victim was denied recovery of the remaining €10,000 on grounds that he had "facilitated" the fraud, and the case remained un

A Facebook romance scam used an unauthorized image of Liberian Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe to solicit women across Africa for fake long-term relationships, with the fraudulent page accumulating over 17,000 followers and generating thousands of engagements since its creation in May 2023. The scam employed classic grooming and trafficking tactics including false identity, promises of financial stability, and redirection to WhatsApp for private contact, exposing vulnerable women to potential exploitation. Despite Facebook rebranding the page after complaints, the fraudulent content remained active, highlighting broader vulnerabilities in digital safety as romance scams caused victims an estimated $1.3 billion in losses in

Robert Dunn, 62, was sentenced to 24 years to life for murdering elderly couple Joaquin and Eleanor Sierra in 2003 and stealing their Social Security benefits and bank funds. Dunn concealed the mummified bodies in a storage unit he paid for using checks stolen from the victims, where they remained undiscovered for 11 years until 2014. Dunn had an extensive criminal history of identity theft, fraud, and violence against vulnerable people, including elderly individuals and women he manipulated using religious rhetoric.

A 56-year-old Japanese man in Tokyo concealed his 86-year-old father's skeletal remains in a wardrobe for two years after the elder's death in January 2023, citing funeral costs as his reason for not reporting the death. Police discovered the body when neighbors alerted them after the man's Chinese restaurant remained closed for a week, and he now faces a fraud investigation amid speculation that he may have continued claiming pension benefits during the concealment period.

Online scammers stole a record $16.6 billion in 2024, a 33% increase from $12.5 billion in 2023, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, with 859,532 total complaints filed and elderly victims representing over 147,000 complaints. Investment scams caused the largest losses at $6.5 billion, followed by business email compromise at $2.7 billion and tech support scams at $1.4 billion, while phishing remained the most commonly reported cybercrime. The figures represent only reported cases and underscore how the digitalization of daily life has expanded criminal opportunities since 2020.

A Maine resident avoided falling victim to a fake check scam when a Facebook Marketplace buyer mailed her a fraudulent cashier's check for $2,400—significantly more than the $600 agreed price for her car. The victim identified red flags including an incorrect check number placement and a non-existent routing number, then brought it to her bank, which discovered two other identical fraudulent checks and reported them. The scam exploits online mobile check deposits, which may initially appear to clear before bouncing weeks later, leaving victims responsible for the full amount.

Sharon Gardner, 59, of Rumford, Maine, was arrested for abusing and financially exploiting an elderly family member whom she served as primary caregiver, dividing over $1,000 from the victim's account and repeatedly using their debit card without authorization while restricting their outside contact. She was charged with two Class C felonies (endangering the welfare of a dependent person and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer) and one Class D misdemeanor (misuse of identification), with the investigation remaining active and additional charges possible.

The FBI warned New England homeowners and real estate agents about Quit Claim Deed fraud, in which scammers forge documents to illegally transfer property ownership and then sell, mortgage, or rent the properties for profit. Since 2019, the scam has cost victims over $61.5 million across New England, with Massachusetts accounting for $46 million in losses, and victims in Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island suffering an additional $15 million combined. The FBI provided recommendations for both homeowners (monitoring property records, setting up title alerts, and watching for suspicious activity) and real estate agents (requiring in-person identity verification, requesting original documentation, and confirming notary credentials) to

A Bucksport, Maine man nearly fell victim to a puppy scam after finding an online listing for a Maltese puppy priced under $800 from a supposed Texas breeder; he avoided the fraud after noticing inconsistencies in property details and transportation costs, and was subsequently targeted for Bitcoin transfers through PayPal. Puppy scams are increasingly common, with perpetrators requesting wire transfers, cryptocurrency payments, or money sent to individuals rather than businesses—all red flags that indicate potential fraud and make fund recovery unlikely.

Modern scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and effective due to advanced technology and organized criminal groups operating internationally. The article illustrates this trend through the example of a utility company impersonation scam targeting a Maine resident, and explains how scammers exploit phishing, deepfakes, AI-generated content, and cryptocurrency investment schemes to defraud victims. Key protective strategies include verifying accounts directly through official channels and remaining suspicious of urgent payment demands, particularly those requesting digital payment methods like Zelle.

A Cumberland, Maine woman lost $100,000 to a sophisticated scam that began with a phishing email giving scammers remote computer access, followed by an impersonator claiming to be a Microsoft employee who convinced her to convert her savings into gold bars that were later picked up by a fake courier. Police arrested 44-year-old Zhangqi Xie of New York and charged him with Theft by Deception, while warning the public never to exchange money for gold, bitcoin, or gift cards based on unsolicited communications and to avoid opening suspicious email attachments.