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Police are warning people about a scam going around in the Greater Manchester Area that involves fake court documents. Manchester Police say it's a 'notice of hearing' which falsely claims the recipi...

# Deed Theft Scam Summary Criminals in New Hampshire are stealing home ownership through "quit claim deed fraud," where scammers forge documents to sell properties they don't own, with victims in New England losing over $61 million between 2019-2023. The scam targets homeowners by using forged identification and real estate documents to sell, rent, or take out mortgages on properties without the owners' knowledge, as happened to a New Hampshire couple who discovered their property being marketed for sale without their consent. To protect yourself, homeowners should monitor their property records regularly, place fraud alerts with credit bureaus, and consider title insurance to verify ownership and catch unauthorized transactions quickly.

# 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.

A New York man was sentenced to two to five years in prison for attempting to defraud an elderly Seabrook woman out of $20,000 by impersonating a PayPal representative and instructing her to withdraw cash from her bank. The scam was prevented when a family member recognized the warning signs and alerted police before the perpetrator could collect the money. Seniors should be alert to unsolicited calls claiming urgent financial problems, never withdraw large sums of cash based on phone requests, and immediately report suspected fraud to local police or the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-949-0470.

A rising wave of gold bar scams is costing victims millions of dollars across the country, with one New Hampshire case involving a 72-year-old who lost over $3 million after scammers convinced him his identity was compromised and he needed to convert his savings to gold bars. The FBI documented over 100 such cases in New England alone between 2023 and May 2025, resulting in $26 million in losses. To protect yourself, experts recommend never withdrawing money or converting assets based on unsolicited calls, talking to a trusted friend or family member before making financial decisions, and reporting suspected scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

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.

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

A 38-year-old California man was indicted for his role in a tech-support scam that targeted a 92-year-old New Hampshire woman, in which he attempted to collect $50,000 in cash from her home. The victim received fraudulent calls falsely claiming to be from Apple support and her bank, falsely claiming her computer was hacked and bank account compromised, before being instructed to withdraw cash for pickup. The suspect was arrested on April 8 and faces 7½ to 15 years in prison and a $4,000 fine if convicted.

New Hampshire authorities warn of quit claim deed fraud, where scammers forge property ownership documents and record them without the owner's knowledge, potentially allowing them to sell, mortgage, or rent the property before detection. Between 2019 and 2023, 239 New Hampshire residents lost $4.1 million to this scheme, with scammers targeting vacant lots, properties with liens, and out-of-state owners using fake IDs in remote closings. The Attorney General's Office recommends victims set up property address alerts, monitor real estate listings, check social media, inspect their property regularly, and contact title insurance professionals, with reporting available through the Consumer Protection Hotline.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers using unauthorized access to their personal information and account details. Brown exploited her position of trust to transfer victim funds via wires, electronic debits, and Zelle, targeting elderly account holders she knew were unfamiliar with electronic banking.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old Arkansas customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers. Brown exploited her job access to customers' personal information and account details to conduct unauthorized transfers via wire, electronic debits, and the Zelle app, with attempted theft totaling $428,526.85.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old Arkansas woman employed as a customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing over $300,000 from at least 10 elderly customers. Brown exploited her authorized access to personal identifying information and account details to conduct wire fraud, transferring stolen funds via wire transfers, electronic debits, and Zelle payments, with attempted theft totaling $428,526.85. She pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of wire fraud and was specifically criticized for deliberately targeting elderly victims unfamiliar with electronic banking.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for wire fraud after stealing over $301,000 from at least 10 elderly customers. Brown abused her authorized access to customer accounts to fraudulently transfer funds via wires, electronic debits, and Zelle, targeting elderly victims she knew were unfamiliar with electronic banking.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old Arkansas woman employed as a customer service representative at a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers by exploiting her access to their personal information and security questions. Brown used wire transfers, electronic debits, and Zelle to commit the fraud and had attempted to steal an additional $428,526.85 before her arrest; she pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in January.

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 global gift card fraud ring with ties to New Hampshire resulted in millions of dollars in losses from October 2023 through January 2024, with victims targeted through romance scams, elder fraud, and store card tampering to purchase high-end electronics that were resold overseas. Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty in federal court, with prosecutors linking them to $4.8 million in fraudulent gift card purchases; a Salem warehouse search uncovered approximately $8 million in goods. Homeland Security Investigations and the New Hampshire U.S. Attorney's Office have established a restitution program allowing victims to recover funds by submitting gift card numbers and purchase receipts by June 30, 2024.

Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for operating a gift card fraud scheme based in China that targeted U.S. citizens through romance and elder fraud schemes to obtain gift cards, which they then used to purchase high-value electronics for shipment to Asia. Naxin Wu, Mengying Jiang, and Mingdong Chen, operating as a cell in New Hampshire, were responsible for $1.4 million, $3 million, and $400,000 in fraudulent gift card purchases respectively, with sentencing scheduled for April 2025. The investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed that organized crime groups acquire gift cards through hacking and fraud schemes, then exploit no-sales-

New Hampshire elderly residents are experiencing a surge in lottery and sweepstakes scams, where perpetrators falsely claim victims have won prizes like Publishers Clearing House and demand upfront fees for taxes or processing through wire transfers, Bitcoin ATMs, or gift cards, with some victims losing $8,500 or more. Attorney General John M. Formella advises residents that legitimate lotteries never require payment to release winnings, unsolicited winning notices should be ignored, and PCH never calls winners in advance—victims should verify directly at 1-800-392-4190 and report suspected scams to local police or the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Bureau.

Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old remote customer service representative for a New Hampshire credit union, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for stealing $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly customers by abusing her access to their personal information and account details. Brown used wires, electronic debits, and Zelle to transfer victim funds and attempted to steal an additional $428,526.85 in total during her employment from December 2021 to May 2023.

New Hampshire's Attorney General issued a consumer alert warning of increasing lottery and sweepstakes scams targeting older adults, in which scammers falsely claim victims have won contests like Publishers Clearing House and demand upfront fees (taxes, legal fees, processing fees) ranging up to $8,500 via wire transfer, Bitcoin ATM, or gift cards. The alert advises that legitimate lotteries never require payment to claim prizes, unsolicited callers claiming to be from PCH should be ignored, and victims should report incidents to local police, the Attorney General's office, or the Department of Health and Human Services.

Scammers posing as Eversource energy company representatives are targeting customers in New Hampshire with threats to disconnect power unless they make immediate payments, using scare tactics to pressure victims into handing over money or personal information. Eversource and local police warn that the company never demands instant payment over the phone, requests gift cards or prepaid cards, or asks for personal information in unsolicited communications. Residents are advised to hang up on suspicious callers, verify requests through official company channels, and report incidents to local police.

Hampton residents lost nearly $1 million to phone, email, text, and social media scams over 13 months, with many involving cryptocurrency, according to Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno—though he notes this represents only reported cases. One particularly devastating case involved a "pig butchering scheme" where a resident lost $480,000 after a scammer built trust through social media before introducing a fraudulent investment opportunity. The Hampton Police Department has become New Hampshire's first law enforcement agency to open a Coinbase account to potentially freeze and recover stolen cryptocurrency, and the chief urges residents to contact police before sending money rather than after they've been victimized.

Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty to running a scheme in 2023 that defrauded elderly Americans out of approximately $100 million through romance and elder fraud scams, using stolen gift cards to purchase Apple products that were stockpiled in a New Hampshire warehouse and shipped to China and Hong Kong for resale. The operation was part of a larger network of similar cells operating across the U.S., with investigators recovering $8 million in Apple products and additional counterfeit electronics during a warehouse search. This case demonstrates how proceeds from elder fraud and other scams fund organized crime operations abroad and fuel additional fraud schemes, including return fraud that costs retailers over $100 billion annually.

Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty to wire fraud for operating a gift card scam cell in Concord, New Hampshire that stole $4.8 million in Apple products. The scheme involved hacking U.S. companies and targeting American citizens through romance and elder fraud schemes to obtain gift card numbers, which were then used to purchase electronics that were shipped overseas to China and Southeast Asia. Wu, Jiang, and Chen each face up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000, with sentencing scheduled for April.

Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their roles in a large-scale scheme that obtained fraudulent gift cards through hacking, romance scams, and elder fraud schemes, then used them to purchase approximately $4.8 million in Apple products for export to China and Southeast Asia. Naxin Wu, Mengying Jiang, and Mingdong Chen were members of a New Hampshire-based cell that deliberately operated in states without sales tax to maximize profits, with Wu responsible for $1.4 million, Jiang for $3 million, and Chen for $400,000 in fraudulent gift card purchases. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2025, with

U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young resigned from her position on January 17, 2024, after serving for approximately two years. During her tenure, Young prosecuted various federal crimes including drug trafficking, financial fraud, elder and child exploitation, and violent crimes.

The New Hampshire attorney general warned of increased holiday shopping scams on social media, where hackers compromise Facebook accounts and post fake listings for cars, tickets, and other items to defraud the account owner's friends. Two women had their Facebook accounts hacked and used to scam acquaintances, including one victim who lost $400 via Venmo for a fraudulent hot tub listing. Officials recommend using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, avoiding credit card information in social media transactions, and meeting sellers in person when possible.

Two New Hampshire-based suspects, Naxin Wu and Mingdong Chen, reached a plea deal to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a sophisticated international gift card scheme. The criminal ring obtained gift cards through illegal means including theft, romance scams, and elder fraud, then used them to purchase Apple products for resale overseas, while also returning counterfeit Apple goods to stores for additional cards; a warehouse search uncovered nearly $2 million in fake iPhones and iPads. Wu and Chen each face up to 20 years in prison.

New Hampshire's Assistant Attorney General Alexandra Sosnowski warns consumers about holiday shopping scams, particularly those occurring online during the Christmas season. Key recommendations include verifying retailer URLs and checking reviews on trusted sources like the Better Business Bureau before purchasing, monitoring package deliveries to prevent porch theft, avoiding clicking links in unsolicited text messages claiming delivery issues, and purchasing gift cards directly from retailers to avoid tampered cards. The alert emphasizes taking extra time to verify sources and using tracking information directly from retailers rather than through suspicious links.

Elizabeth Morse, a former office manager at Bedford Women's Care Associates in New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud for manipulating payroll systems between 2020 and 2023 to increase her own pay, fraudulently obtaining approximately $168,366.66. Morse, now residing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, exploited her position of trust to access third-party payroll services and alter her compensation rate without authorization. She faces sentencing on February 26, 2025, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and has agreed to pay full restitution to the medical practice.

New Hampshire residents are being targeted by "smishing" scams in which fraudulent text messages claim they owe E-ZPass toll fees and direct them to click malicious links designed to steal personal information. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation warns that legitimate E-ZPass will never request payment via text, and similar scams have been reported by toll agencies nationwide. Victims should check accounts only through official websites or apps, and report suspicious messages to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or their mobile provider.

A New York man, Wenhua Zhuo, 48, was indicted on attempted theft by deception for acting as a courier in a bank impersonation scam targeting a 77-year-old New Hampshire man. Scammers posing as bank fraud department officials called the victim and instructed him to withdraw $20,000 in cash for a courier to collect, and Zhuo appeared at the victim's home to retrieve at least $1,500 in cash that had already been withdrawn. Zhuo was arrested in July and was scheduled for arraignment in November.

A 48-year-old New York man was indicted for attempting to steal $20,000 from a 77-year-old New Hampshire resident as part of a bank impersonation scam, where he posed as a courier to pick up cash after a fraudster called the victim claiming his bank account was compromised. Wenhua Zhuo traveled to the victim's home in Richmond and was arrested after approaching the victim who had withdrawn over $1,500 in cash, and he faces a class A felony charge of attempted theft by deception.

A New York man, Wenhua Zhuo, was indicted on attempted theft by deception charges for acting as a courier in a bank impersonation scam targeting a 77-year-old New Hampshire man. Scammers posing as bank fraud department employees called the victim and instructed him to withdraw $20,000 in cash for a courier to collect, though Zhuo only obtained over $1,500 before the scheme was interrupted. Zhuo was arrested in July and was scheduled for arraignment in November.

A 48-year-old New York resident, Wenhua Zhuo, was indicted on felony charges of attempted theft by deception for allegedly serving as a courier in a scheme targeting a 77-year-old Richmond, New Hampshire man. The scam involved a fraudulent call claiming to be from the victim's bank, instructing him to withdraw $20,000; Zhuo allegedly traveled to the victim's home to collect money, with over $1,500 in currency present at the time of the attempted pickup. The case was investigated by the Attorney General's Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit, with Zhuo's arraignment scheduled for November 7.

A New York man was indicted on attempted theft by deception charges for acting as a courier in a bank impersonation scam targeting a 77-year-old New Hampshire man. Scammers impersonating bank fraud department employees called the victim claiming his account was compromised and instructed him to withdraw $20,000 cash for pickup; the defendant attempted to collect at least $1,500 from the victim's home. The defendant was arrested in July and scheduled for arraignment in November.

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.

Scammers posing as bank representatives are targeting small business owners in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts by calling victims about suspicious account activity and requesting screen-sharing access to transfer funds. Amy Kelly, owner of TaleSpinStudio in Maine, lost all funds from her business account after falling victim to this scam, which the Federal Trade Commission reports occurred over 1,000 times in Maine in 2023. Despite reporting the incident to police and her bank, recovery efforts were largely unsuccessful.

**Summary:** Roslyn Weems, a 52-year-old Mississippi woman previously employed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for stealing approximately $52,000 in rental income from her employer's luxury coastal Maine property in July 2021. Weems intercepted rental payments by diverting them to accounts under her control rather than the property owner's account and used the funds for personal benefit. She faces sentencing on December 19, 2024, with potential penalties including up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and mandatory restitution.

According to a SocialCatfish.com study, New Hampshire ranked as the 4th least catfished state with 71 romance scam victims losing $1 million, while California led the nation with $184 million in losses. The article outlines five evolving romance scam tactics to avoid: money mule schemes, fake cryptocurrency investment apps, targeting of teens on TikTok, impersonation of social media influencers, and untraceable gift card requests, providing preventive measures for each type.

Quit-claim fraud is an emerging scam where criminals forge property deed documents to illegally transfer homeownership without the victim's knowledge or payment, as happened at Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion. The scam exploits easily accessible personal and property information combined with advanced document forgery technology, and victims must pursue costly legal action to recover their property. New Hampshire offers free protection through a fraud alert system that notifies property owners via text or email whenever documents bearing their name are filed with the county registry of deeds.

This article discusses online dating safety in Illinois, ranking the state 30th for safety among U.S. states, primarily due to high STD rates of 839.2 per 100,000 people annually. The piece mentions various online dating risks including romance scams, catfishing, and dishonest actors, while noting that Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire are the safest states for online dating, whereas Nevada, Alaska, and Georgia pose the greatest risks.

A Privacy Journal study ranked Georgia as the third most dangerous state for online dating, scoring 43.16 based on six risk factors including romance scams, identity theft, fraud, registered sex offenders, STD prevalence, and violent crime. Georgia performed particularly poorly in identity theft and fraud cases, with 358 per 100,000 residents experiencing identity theft annually and 470 per 100,000 falling victim to other types of fraud, though it had the fourth-lowest rate of romance scams. Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire were identified as the safest states for online dating.

In the first half of 2024, Hiya detected nearly 20 billion suspected spam calls globally, with spam flag rates exceeding 20% of unknown calls in 25 of 42 countries, alongside a significant rise in AI deepfake voice-cloning scams—including a January robocall impersonating Joe Biden in New Hampshire. Medicare, health insurance, and tax scams dominated in the United States, while France and Spain experienced the highest European spam rates (53% and 51% respectively), Brazil received the most spam calls per capita (26 monthly), and Canada and the UK saw surges in Amazon and tax authority impersonation scams. Researchers anticipate voice

New Hampshire's Consumer Protection hotline, staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers since 1992, helps residents report fraud and resolve consumer disputes. The article highlights four long-serving volunteers who field calls about scams, faulty purchases, and business problems, noting that crypto scams have become increasingly prevalent—with victims often transferring tens of thousands of dollars after being deceived by impersonators claiming to be from the IRS, PayPal, or Microsoft.

Anthony Strangis, ex-husband of restaurateur Sarma Melngailis, defrauded Sarma's mother Susan Jasse by convincing her he needed money to help Sarma with mental health issues, resulting in Susan withdrawing approximately $450,000 from a trust. Strangis told Susan the loan was a "test" that would be rewarded, leveraging his significant control over Sarma to facilitate the scheme. Susan, who now operates Alyson's Orchard in New Hampshire, declined to participate in Netflix's "Bad Vegan" documentary about the fraud.

In May 2022, Nicholas Melanson, 42, of New Hampshire, was sentenced to six months in prison for transporting stolen checks and exploiting an elderly Vermont woman by repeatedly driving her to banks to make withdrawals totaling approximately $392,000 over nine days. Melanson received $4,500 in payments for his role in the scheme and had hoped to earn $10,000 monthly; he was arrested at one of the victim's banks and ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution.

Email has become the primary method used by scammers to target New Hampshire seniors for identity theft and financial fraud, according to federal and state officials. In 2023, over 400 New Hampshire residents aged 60 and older lost more than $11 million to scams, with criminals increasingly using artificial intelligence to impersonate trusted contacts. Experts advise consumers to never provide money or personal information to unsolicited contacts and to verify requests by calling known phone numbers directly.

Nicholas Melanson, 42, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced on August 12, 2024, to six months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for interstate transportation of a stolen check and elder fraud. Over nine days in May 2022, Melanson made five trips from New Hampshire to an elderly woman's home in Windsor, Vermont, driving her to banks where he facilitated or conducted transactions totaling at least $392,000 (most of which were stopped or reversed), receiving $1,500 in cash and a $3,000 bonus while seeking $10,000 monthly payments. He was ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution to

Federal and state officials highlighted that email has become the primary method scammers use to target New Hampshire seniors, with over 400 residents aged 60 and older losing more than $11 million to scams in 2023. Experts warned that artificial intelligence now enables scammers to impersonate loved ones convincingly, and advised consumers never to engage with unsolicited contacts requesting money or personal information, instead hanging up and calling back through known numbers. U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas discussed the growing threat and emphasized the need for sustained congressional resources to combat senior fraud.