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By Chrystal Blair Online scams are draining billions of dollars from Americans every year, including victims in Michigan, according to a new report. Federal data show fraud losses in Michigan rose a...

"Pig-butchering" romance scams are costing Americans over $1 billion annually, with scammers creating fake online dating profiles to build emotional trust with victims before asking them to invest money or provide personal financial information. Beth Hyland, a 53-year-old Michigan woman, fell victim to one such scam when she matched with a fake profile on Tinder and developed what she thought was a romantic relationship with someone claiming to be a construction manager. To protect yourself, be cautious of online dating matches who quickly profess feelings, avoid sharing financial information with people you've only met online, and verify profiles through reverse image searches or video calls before developing emotional or financial ties.

The Michigan Lottery is warning residents about scams involving fake lottery apps, websites, and unauthorized ticket sellers that falsely claim affiliation with the official lottery through social media. To stay safe, players should only purchase tickets through authorized retailers, the official Michigan Lottery app, or MichiganLottery.com, and can verify suspicious offers by calling 844-917-6325 or emailing [email protected]. Anyone who suspects they've been scammed should contact local authorities or the agencies listed by the Michigan Lottery.

A former Michigan Adult Protective Services employee, Derek Plumb, has been charged with embezzling over $100,000 from three elderly women he was assigned to protect and allegedly attempting to forge documents to steal their homes. Plumb exploited the trust these seniors placed in him by visiting their homes and gaining access to their personal affairs, using forged "Lady Bird deeds" to try to transfer property ownership to himself. Seniors should be cautious about who they allow into their homes, verify any legal documents before signing, and consider having trusted family members or lawyers review major financial or property decisions.

Two Indian-origin men have been charged with money laundering for allegedly defrauding elderly people across Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio through schemes impersonating tech workers, Microsoft support, PayPal representatives, and FTC officials. The scammers targeted vulnerable seniors, with at least one victim losing $40,000 in cash. Elderly people should be cautious of unsolicited calls about computer problems or account issues, verify caller identity through official channels, and never send money or personal information to unknown callers claiming to represent major companies or government agencies.

A Michigan woman named Beth Hyland lost over $20,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a Frenchman named Richard on Tinder, using a sob story about being stranded in Qatar to pressure her into sending money. Romance scams cost Americans $672 million in 2024 according to the FBI, with seniors over 60 losing the most at $389 million collectively. To protect yourself, be wary of quick professions of love, requests for money, and people who make excuses to avoid meeting in person—especially those claiming to be stranded abroad needing financial help.

# Romance Scams Cost Americans Millions A Michigan woman lost over $20,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a French man named Richard on Tinder, quickly building trust through daily communication and promises of engagement before claiming he needed money while traveling for work. According to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report, romance scams cost Americans $672 million in reported losses, with seniors aged 60 and over losing the most at $389 million. To protect yourself, be cautious of people who move relationships very quickly, avoid sending money to anyone you haven't met in person, and verify the identity of new contacts through video calls or meeting face-to-face before developing emotional or financial connections.

Romance scams cost Americans $672 million in 2024, with seniors aged 60+ losing the most money, and scammers are increasingly using dating apps like Tinder to target vulnerable people. A Michigan woman named Beth Hyland lost over $20,000 to a scammer posing as "Richard" who quickly built an emotional connection, professed love, and then asked for money under the pretense of needing help while traveling for work. To protect yourself, be wary of dating app matches who move very quickly into declarations of love, ask for money, claim to be unable to access their bank accounts, or avoid meeting in person with excuses about travel or emergencies.

During Detroit Auto Show weekend, Michigan's Attorney General warned visitors about parking scams after a family from Columbus paid $60 instead of the advertised $25. The AG recommends using services like SpotHero to prepay for parking and avoid giving keys to attendants unless valet service is confirmed in advance, as some fraudulent operators sell spots they don't own, leading to vehicles being ticketed, towed, or stolen—and fake parking tickets are also being issued by scammers.

# Romance Scam Summary A Portage, Michigan woman named Beth Hyland lost significant money in a romance scam after meeting someone claiming to be a French project manager on a dating app. The scammer built an emotional relationship with her over time, eventually asking her to transfer money from his supposed bank accounts when he claimed he couldn't access them while in the Middle East. To protect yourself, be cautious of dating app matches who quickly escalate relationships, ask for money transfers, or claim to have financial emergencies—especially if they can't verify their identity through video calls or other means.

# Scams Prevention Presentation Summary The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office is hosting a free presentation in Clinton Township, Michigan designed to help seniors, families, and caregivers protect themselves from fraud, telemarketing scams, and financial exploitation. The event will cover practical strategies for preventing scams, understanding elder abuse warning signs, navigating guardianship issues, and residents' rights, along with a question-and-answer session. To attend or learn more, interested individuals can contact Heather Esposito at (586) 469-5642 or [email protected].

# Scam Alert Summary Winter and holiday seasons see a surge in scams targeting Michigan residents, including disaster-related fraud and romance scams that exploit people buying gifts, seeking relationships, or filing taxes. Authorities warn that Bitcoin ATM usage is a major red flag for fraud, with 97% of Bitcoin ATM transactions potentially involving scams, particularly romance schemes where victims are tricked into sending money to fake soldiers or other fabricated personas. To protect yourself, be suspicious of requests to send money via cryptocurrency or Bitcoin, verify the identity of people you meet online before sharing personal information or sending funds, and seek advice from trusted community organizations before making unusual financial transactions.

Post-holiday scammers are targeting consumers who are redeeming gift cards and making returns, with organized retail crime networks tampering with gift cards before purchase by peeling back security labels to steal card numbers. Michigan's Attorney General and 13 other state AGs launched a public awareness campaign urging consumers to only check gift card balances on official retailer websites, never use gift cards to pay debts or claim prizes, and report suspicious activity. Experts recommend checking gift cards immediately upon purchase for signs of tampering and watching out for phishing emails about delayed packages through January 31, 2026.

Scammers are increasingly using AI voice cloning technology—needing only a three-second audio sample—to impersonate loved ones or authority figures like the IRS to pressure people into sending money, with one in four survey respondents reporting they've experienced or know someone who has fallen victim to this scam. Common tactics include the "hey mom scam" where callers claim a child has been in an accident or kidnapped, and fake IRS calls claiming money is owed. To protect yourself, watch for signs of urgency and anxiety in calls, take time to verify the caller by phoning them back on a trusted number before paying anything, and consider establishing a family code word—if you report suspected scams to police and the FTC, it helps warn others.

# Holiday Scam Alert and Prevention Tips During the holiday shopping season, scammers increasingly target consumers through various fraudulent schemes including romance scams, phishing texts and emails, fake package delivery notifications, and payment fraud. Police and banking officials warn shoppers to avoid clicking links from unknown sources, never pay with gift cards or cryptocurrency, and be suspicious of requests to move conversations to encrypted messaging apps. To stay safe, pause before making purchases, verify you're communicating with legitimate businesses, and remember that banks will never ask for personal information like PINs or passwords over the phone.

# Fraud Summary A 73-year-old Michigan woman named Mary Carole McDonnell allegedly scammed California banks out of $30 million by falsely claiming to be an heir to McDonnell Aircraft Corporation with access to an $80 million trust fund. She used the stolen money to pay employees and cover business expenses for her struggling entertainment company, and the FBI believes she has since fled to Dubai. To protect yourself, be suspicious of anyone making unusual financial claims or asking for large sums based on inheritance stories, and verify any significant financial transactions through official channels before committing funds.

**Summary:** Todd Bernstein, a 67-year-old Michigan insurance agent, pleaded no contest to four counts of insurance fraud involving misleading information on annuity applications for clients over 65, concealing that new annuities were purchased with proceeds from early surrendered annuities. As part of his plea agreement, Bernstein paid $107,918.13 in restitution and agreed to forfeit his insurance license. He faces sentencing in October 2025.

A study analyzing FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data from 2021-2024 found that Millennials in Michigan rank third nationally as cybercrime victims, averaging approximately 3,000 scam incidents annually compared to 2,385 for seniors. The higher victimization rate among Millennials is attributed to their greater digital dependence for networking, socializing, shopping, and banking, which makes them more vulnerable targets for criminals than seniors who use technology less frequently.

Prosecutor LaDonna Schulz presented to 50 seniors in Ogemaw County, Michigan, on June 18 about financial elder abuse, explaining that seniors are targeted because they typically have substantial assets and are reluctant to report scams due to embarrassment or fear of losing financial independence. The FBI reported 101,068 fraud complaints from people over 60 in 2023 resulting in $3.4 billion in losses, compared to $360 million lost by people aged 20-29, with common scams including romance fraud, phishing, fake charities, and toll/traffic ticket schemes. Schulz recommended protective measures such as placing credit freezes, setting up

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released an Elder Abuse Task Force newsletter featuring legislative updates, educational resources, and information on scam psychology to help protect older adults. The newsletter highlights new legislation (House Bills 4418-4419) regarding patient consent decisions, free downloadable Power of Attorney forms, and the Michigan Guardianship Diversion Project, while reminding residents that over 100,000 Michigan seniors are victims of elder abuse annually and can report suspected cases by calling 800-24-ABUSE.

The FTC reports a four-fold increase in "transfer it to protect it" scams from 2020-2024, where fraudsters impersonating banks or government agencies convince victims to move money to protect it from fabricated threats. Adults aged 60 and older reported the highest losses, with combined losses exceeding $100,000 reaching $445 million in 2024 (up from $55 million in 2020), though younger consumers are also becoming victims, including an 18-year-old in Michigan who lost $4,800 after receiving a phishing email. Scammers typically initiate contact via phone calls (41% of cases), emails, or pop

This article is not about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It concerns a federal court ruling blocking the Department of Health and Human Services from sharing Medicaid beneficiaries' healthcare data with the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement purposes, as challenged by Michigan's Attorney General and other states. This is a data privacy and government policy matter unrelated to the Elderus database's focus on elder fraud and scam research.

A Troy, Michigan man lost $6,500 to an employment scam after receiving a fraudulent job offer posing as Pinhero Construction. The scammers used a fake email domain (pinherocareers.com) to convince him he was hired, then instructed him to deposit a check and wire $5,000 for office equipment, followed by an additional $1,500 request via Zelle or Apple Pay for supposed reimbursement. Troy Police report these scams occur one to two times weekly in the area and advise job seekers to independently verify offers and avoid making rushed decisions when pressure is applied.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined 50 bipartisan state attorneys general in launching Operation Robocall Roundup, sending warning letters to 37 voice service providers for failing to comply with Federal Communications Commission rules regarding illegal robocalls. The providers had not responded to government traceback requests, registered in the FCC's Robocall Mitigation Database, or filed mitigation plans, with the FCC simultaneously removing seven of these companies from its database to prevent other providers from routing calls through their networks.

A Michigan couple lost $20,000 in a phishing scam after clicking a malicious link in an email impersonating an antivirus service; scammers then sent a courier to collect cash from their home. Police successfully recovered the stolen funds through quick action and investigation, tracing the scam to a Southeast Michigan residence, though two identified suspects remain unarrested. This recovery is rare, as Michigan saw fraud losses surge to $204 million in 2024 (up from $60 million in 2020), with experts emphasizing the importance of verifying sender identity before responding to communications or sending money.

Beth Hyland of Michigan lost $26,000 to a romance scammer who posed as a construction project manager on Tinder, claiming he needed funds for legal fees related to a $10 million job payout in Qatar; when he requested an additional $50,000 a month later, her financial advisor identified the scheme. The scammer used stolen photos from a real man in Germany, and Hyland never met him in person despite their plans to marry and build a life together. She found healing through FightCybercrime.org's peer support group, which has served over 600 romance scam survivors in five years, and now emphasizes that victims experience not only financial loss but

Phone scams are circulating in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, including schemes where callers impersonate Michigan State Police to solicit money or personal information. MSP Lieutenant Ben Eckola advises residents not to provide financial or personal details over the phone and to be cautious of unsolicited calls requesting such information.

A Walgreens shift lead in Farmington Hills, Michigan prevented an elderly customer from losing $500 to a gift card scam after noticing her attempting to purchase gift cards at the urging of an unknown California caller. The employee recognized the scam and informed the customer, who acknowledged she had harbored suspicions but had been persuaded by the caller. The incident highlights the common targeting of elderly individuals by scammers and demonstrates the importance of community vigilance in protecting vulnerable populations.

Michigan State Police warn of an imposter scam where callers falsely claim to represent MSP and tell residents they have missed court dates or committed violations to pressure them into providing personal information. MSP clarified they never call to request sensitive data or payments, and legitimate law enforcement makes in-person contact for official matters. The advisory recommends never providing personal information to unsolicited callers, hanging up on suspected scams, and reporting incidents to the Federal Trade Commission at 877-382-4357.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued consumer alerts warning of an uptick in scams impersonating celebrities (Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, Kid Rock) and military leaders to steal money through romance scams, cryptocurrency/pig butchering schemes, and merchandise fraud. The scams often exploit people on dating platforms and social media by posing as celebrities to request money, investments, or personal information, with some using AI-generated deepfake audio and video to increase authenticity. Nessel and AARP recommend victims avoid sending money to online contacts, verify caller identities independently, and contact AARP's ElderWatch program at 800-222-4444 for

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

Chase Bank partnered with the Detroit Police Department to conduct financial wellness workshops for metro Detroit seniors in summer 2025, addressing a significant fraud problem in the region. Michigan residents lost over $200 million to fraud in 2024, with adults 60 and older filing the most fraud complaints and averaging $83,000 in losses per victim; the most common scams impersonate government agencies like the IRS, Medicare, and Social Security. Chase's workshops aim to educate seniors on recognizing warning signs and provide resources for financial protection, while noting that over 40% of scammers targeting seniors are adult children or people known to the victims.

A 56-year-old Michigan woman lost $400 after clicking on a fraudulent Geico phone number in Google search results and unknowingly calling scammers who impersonated the insurance company. The fraudsters obtained her driver's license, VIN, and Social Security number, then instructed her to make a payment via Xfinity using a fake Google Docs form. The victim discovered the scam when she contacted the real Geico and learned no legitimate policy had been created; her bank refunded the $400 pending investigation, though scammers also attempted to contact her adult sons for their personal information.

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

**Not Relevant to Elderus Database** This article describes Consumers Energy's infrastructure modernization project and does not involve elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It is a utility company news release about pipeline replacement work. This content falls outside the scope of the Elderus elder fraud research database.

Kaushalkumar Chaudhary, a 30-year-old Indian national, was sentenced to 63 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $524,947 in restitution for his role as a "money mule" in a wire fraud scheme targeting elderly and vulnerable adults in Michigan and across the U.S. and India during 2023-2024. The conspiracy involved fraudsters impersonating government agencies to convince victims their financial accounts were compromised, then having couriers like Chaudhary pick up cash, gold, and other valuables from victims' homes, with one instance involving $70,000 in gold bars. After serving his sentence, Chau

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned consumers of a scam using caller ID spoofing to impersonate the Department of Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, falsely claiming recipients' accounts would be shut down unless they made immediate payments. The scammers use real department phone numbers to appear legitimate and pressure victims into disclosing personal and financial information. The Attorney General emphasized that the department never calls to demand money or threatens account closures, and urged consumers to report suspicious calls.

Michigan participated in the Department of Justice's 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants nationwide involving over $14.6 billion in false billings and 15.6 million illegally diverted controlled substance pills, with $245 million in assets seized. Two Michigan cases were charged: James Alexander Carthron billed Medicaid approximately $11,000 for 23 telephone visits he did not provide, and Daleena Taree Miller billed Medicaid $8,640 for services she did not render and falsified medical records as a Community Living Support worker.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warned consumers of a spoofing scam in which fraudsters impersonate the Department of Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team, using caller ID spoofing to appear as legitimate officials and falsely claiming recipients' information has been "flagged" with credit agencies to extort immediate payment. The Department clarified it never calls to demand money, charge fees, or negotiate debt over the phone, and urged consumers to hang up on such calls and report them directly to the Consumer Protection Team.

Charles Schumer, 75, of Freeland, Michigan, was charged with embezzling over $200,000 from a vulnerable adult relative for whom he served as attorney-in-fact, allegedly transferring retirement assets to his business account and making unauthorized purchases that did not benefit the victim. Schumer faces two 20-year felony counts: Embezzlement of $100,000 or more by an Agent and Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult. The case was prosecuted by Michigan's Attorney General Health Care Fraud Division.

Dr. Sophie Toya, a Michigan physician, was sentenced to four years in federal prison on June 26, 2025, for orchestrating a $6.3 million Medicare fraud scheme involving over 7,900 medically unnecessary orthotic braces prescribed to more than 2,600 elderly and disabled patients, often without clinical evaluation or patient contact. Toya used deceptive television advertisements and telehealth consultations to solicit prescriptions, with some patients receiving multiple braces in single visits and undercover agents obtaining prescriptions after less than one-minute phone calls. In addition to her prison sentence, Toya was ordered to pay $3.6 million in restit

Jason Garza, 45, of Wyandotte, Michigan, was charged with embezzling over $166,000 from his employer, Montway Auto Transport, between 2021 and 2022 by offering customers unauthorized discounts in exchange for direct payments via peer-to-peer payment apps, which he kept for personal use rather than remitting to the company. He faces six felony charges including three counts of embezzlement ranging from $1,000 to over $100,000 and three counts of using a computer to commit a crime, with potential sentences up to 20 years.

In response to rising scam cases in Metro Detroit, Chase and the Detroit Police Department hosted a workshop for seniors to educate them on common fraud tactics and prevention strategies, coinciding with World Elder Abuse Awareness Month. According to the FBI, individuals 60 and older lost nearly $4.9 billion to scams in 2024, with Michigan residents alone losing over $206 million to fraud last year, and the average victim losing $35,101. The workshop emphasized the motto "trust but verify" and covered common scams including impersonation, spoofing, phishing, and vishing, recommending that seniors verify contacts, avoid sharing personal information, resist pressure to act quickly, an

A 53-year-old Michigan administrative assistant lost $26,000 to a romance scam involving a man posing as a French project manager named "Richard" who used deepfake videos during Skype calls to appear authentic. Over several months, the scammer emotionally manipulated the victim into taking out loans under the pretense of needing legal and translation help in Qatar, then disappeared when confronted. The case highlights the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes in romance scams, with projections estimating eight million deepfakes will be shared worldwide in 2025, approximately one-fifth of which involve romantic fraud schemes.

DMV text message scams, known as "smishing," are expanding across multiple states including Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, California, Michigan, and North Carolina, with earlier warnings issued in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. These fraudulent texts falsely claim recipients have unpaid traffic tickets or outstanding bills and threaten consequences like vehicle registration loss, driving privilege suspension, or credit score damage unless they click a link and pay. The Federal Trade Commission advises recipients not to click links or respond, instead contacting their state DMV directly through official channels and reporting the messages to their wireless provider, the FTC, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The Better Business Bureau of Northwest and West Central Ohio and Southeast Michigan operates ScamGuard, an educational program launched three years ago to protect seniors from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes. The program warns older adults about common scams including telephone/tech support scams, gift card tampering, fake charities, grandparent scams, sweepstakes fraud, and online dating schemes, providing practical advice such as verifying unfamiliar callers, researching charities before donating, and never sending money to individuals met only online.

Michigan residents are being targeted by text message scams falsely claiming they owe tolls through EZ-Pass or the DMV, with scammers directing victims to fraudulent links to steal credit card information. The Michigan Department of Transportation warns that these scams are not legitimate—MDOT operates no toll roads and never contacts residents via text or email about payments. Residents should avoid clicking links in suspicious toll-related messages and instead contact official agencies directly before making any payments.

Adult Protective Services in Macomb and Michigan released an annual report on efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation among the growing senior population. The article highlights a significant barrier to assistance: many seniors lack knowledge of available support systems, as illustrated by the case of Shirley Cook from Clinton Township, who relocated multiple times to escape abuse but struggled to navigate available resources.

Law enforcement in Michigan warns that scammers use urgency and secrecy to target victims, particularly seniors, requesting payment via hard-to-trace methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency. Common tactics include impersonating government agencies, using AI-generated calls, posing as family members or romantic interests on social media, and demanding payment for fictitious warrants or debts. Authorities advise victims to immediately freeze accounts, file police reports, avoid clicking suspicious links, verify caller identities through independent searches, and remember that legitimate businesses and government agencies never request payment via gift cards.

Michigan residents, particularly in the west, have received fraudulent text messages impersonating the Michigan Department of Transportation and toll companies like E-Z Pass, pressuring them to pay fake outstanding toll balances through malicious links to steal personal and financial information. The scam has spread nationwide with 60,000 complaints reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2024, originating from various area codes including overseas servers, making prosecution difficult. Residents should ignore these texts, never click embedded links, and verify toll obligations directly through official websites or by contacting MDOT at 517-241-2400, as legitimate toll bills in Michigan are sent by mail only.