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In a victory against digital fraud, federal authorities in North Carolina have confiscated more than $61 million in USDT, the stablecoin issued by digital assets firm Tether. The U.S. Attorney’s Offic...

U.S. authorities in North Carolina seized $61 million in cryptocurrency (Tether/USDT) connected to "pig butchering" scams, a fraud scheme where criminals build fake romantic relationships with victims online and direct them to fraudulent investment platforms that show fake returns before demanding "taxes" or "fees" to withdraw funds. These scams have cost victims billions globally, with criminals repeatedly extracting money through a cycle of fake promises and hidden charges. To protect yourself, be suspicious of online romantic connections that quickly push cryptocurrency investments, verify investment platforms independently, and remember that legitimate investments never demand upfront fees to access your returns.

# Romance Scam Summary A 56-year-old Florida woman was arrested and extradited to North Carolina after defrauding multiple victims of approximately $3 million over six years through romance scams conducted on dating apps and social media. The scammer created fake profiles to build trust with victims before requesting money, exploiting dozens of people across the country. To protect yourself, never send money or gifts to online romantic interests you haven't met in person, and report suspected scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to the platform where you encountered the scammer.

# Romance Scam Summary A 56-year-old Florida woman was arrested after allegedly defrauding victims nationwide of approximately $3 million over six years through romance scams, with one North Carolina victim losing $139,900. Romance scammers typically create fake profiles on dating sites or social media, build trust with victims, and then request money under false pretenses. To protect yourself, never send money or gifts to someone you haven't met in person, and report suspected scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

A Florida woman was arrested for allegedly running a romance scam that defrauded victims of approximately $3 million over six years, with one North Carolina victim alone losing $139,900 after being tricked into sending money for a fake male suitor. Romance scammers typically create fake dating profiles or contact people through social media, build trust, then request money under false pretenses, often accepting gift cards as payment. To protect yourself, never send money or gifts to someone you haven't met in person, and report suspected scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

A North Carolina woman named Christina Jane Julian has been accused of running romance scams that defrauded multiple victims across the country of approximately $3 million over six years, targeting people through fake dating profiles and social media accounts. Victims are advised to be cautious of online dating connections that quickly build trust and request money, and to report suspected scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to the platform where the scam occurred. Julian has been extradited to North Carolina and is facing felony charges including obtaining property by false pretense and exploiting the elderly.

# Romance Scam Summary A Florida woman named Christina Julian has been extradited to North Carolina and accused of defrauding approximately $3 million from victims across the country over six years, including a Craven County woman who lost $139,900 in what authorities say was a romance scam involving false promises about money transfers. To protect yourself, be wary of online dating matches who claim to be unable to meet in person due to overseas work, military service, or travel, and never send money to people you've only met online—especially through gift cards—even if they've built a relationship with you over time. If someone you're communicating with online suddenly asks for financial help for medical bills, travel costs, visa fees, or other expenses, it's likely a scam.

A Florida woman has been arrested and extradited to North Carolina for orchestrating romance scams that defrauded multiple victims across the country of approximately $3 million over six years. Scammers typically create fake profiles on dating apps and social media to build trust with victims before fabricating emergencies and requesting money, with gift cards being a commonly used payment method. To protect yourself, never send money to someone you haven't met in person, and report suspected scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the platform where you encountered the scammer.

A Massachusetts woman has been arrested in connection with a Publishers Clearing House scam that defrauded a North Carolina man of approximately $500,000 by falsely claiming he had won $4 million and a Mercedes-Benz, then pressuring him to pay fake IRS and FDIC fees. The victim liquidated his retirement and investment accounts to pay the scammers through checks and gift cards, with about $215,000 going to a suspicious company linked to previous fraud cases. Authorities warn that legitimate prize organizations and financial institutions never require upfront payments, fees, gift cards, or wire transfers to claim winnings, so recipients of such requests should hang up and contact the organization directly through official channels.

A 28-year-old bank teller named Sarah Wilson was sentenced to 21 months in prison for embezzling over $150,000 from First Citizens Bank in North Carolina and fraudulently draining the savings accounts of two elderly customers (ages 89 and 90) by a combined $59,700 between December 2023 and May 2024. Wilson concealed her crimes by making false entries in the bank's computer system, and when one elderly customer questioned suspicious activity, she falsely assured him everything was fine. To protect yourself, elderly customers should regularly monitor their accounts for suspicious transactions, verify account details with bank management rather than individual tellers, and consider having a trusted family member help oversee finances.

# Robocall Scams Cost North Carolina Residents Hundreds North Carolina residents lost an average of $400 each to robocall scams in 2024, contributing to $277 million in fraud losses statewide and $12.5 billion nationwide. Scammers typically use foreign robocalls to impersonate legitimate entities and trick people into giving up money or personal information, with the vast majority of these calls originating from outside the United States. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited calls even if they sound legitimate, use AARP's Fraud Watch resources (including their hotline), and support legislation like the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act, which aims to give law enforcement better tools to block these calls before they reach Americans.

An ongoing scam has victimized elderly residents across state lines, with an 88-year-old woman in Evansville and another victim in Jacksonville, North Carolina, losing over $70,000 in cashier's checks to fraudsters. Police are urging the public to avoid sending money to unknown individuals and to verify sources through multiple means before transferring funds. Family members should regularly check in with elderly relatives to help protect them from such schemes.

North Carolina residents receive roughly 200 million robocalls monthly—among the highest rates in the country—with many calls tied to scams and fraud schemes. To protect themselves, the FCC advises residents to avoid answering unknown numbers, never press buttons to "opt out," refuse to share personal information, and hang up on callers claiming to represent companies or agencies, then independently verify by calling official numbers. Consumers can also use free call-blocking tools from wireless carriers or apps, register with the National Do Not Call Registry to reduce legitimate telemarketing calls, and report scam calls to the FCC to help shut down illegal operations.

# Federal agents in North Carolina seized nearly $8.5 million in cryptocurrency that was stolen through "pig butchering schemes," elaborate scams where criminals pose as romantic interests or trusted advisors on social media to lure victims into fake cryptocurrency investments that promise unrealistic returns. Victims—some of whom lost their entire life savings—are typically contacted randomly via text or social media, build relationships with scammers, and are directed to fraudulent trading platforms where their money disappears when they attempt withdrawal. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited messages offering investment opportunities, verify investment platforms independently before sending money, and remember that legitimate investment firms will never demand additional payments to help you recover losses.

Pender County, North Carolina lost over $650,000 in taxpayer funds after scammers impersonated the Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority and changed banking details on payment invoices. The FBI and SBI are now investigating the fraud scheme, which raises concerns that other counties may have been targeted similarly. County officials advise verifying payment routing information directly with vendors through known contact methods rather than relying solely on email instructions, especially when banking details change.

A journalist conducting an undercover investigation nearly fell victim to a StubHub impersonation scam after clicking a "Call now" button on a fraudulent website listing. The scammer, posing as StubHub customer service, attempted to manipulate the victim into purchasing gift cards by requesting repeated password entries, app downloads, and account "verification"—tactics StubHub confirmed they never use. The victim avoided financial loss by deliberately stalling with intentional typing errors and refusing to complete the scammer's requests, while documenting the hour-long call from a number in the 910 North Carolina area code.

A Tennessee woman and multiple passengers were scammed at Knoxville airport when an American Airlines worker handed them a Post-it note with a fraudulent phone number claiming they needed to rebook their flights due to late bag check-in; when they called the number, scammers posing as airline representatives collected their credit card information. The incident affected at least several passengers, with victims advised to cancel their payment cards, and a similar scam was reported on Reddit involving a fake airline rebooking service charging $160.

A North Carolina elderly widow was scammed out of $17,500 in cash through a multi-step fraud involving fake banking and PayPal representatives who gained remote access to her computer, manipulated a funds transfer, and instructed her to withdraw cash that was later collected by a man captured on her doorbell camera. The suspect, Linghui Zheng, and an accomplice are charged with obtaining property under false pretenses and computer fraud in connection with approximately $400,000 in total scams across multiple North Carolina counties.

An Orange County, North Carolina woman lost over $17,000 in a sophisticated scam that began with a fake bank alert about suspicious PayPal charges. The scammers gained remote access to her computer, manipulated a display to show a fraudulent $18,000 deposit, and used a forged Bank of America letter threatening IRS account freezes to pressure her into withdrawing cash from her bank; a person later arrived at her home to collect the money. Investigators indicate this was part of a larger multi-county operation targeting victims across North Carolina.

An Orange County, North Carolina woman lost over $17,000 in a sophisticated scam involving fake bank and PayPal fraud alerts, remote computer access, fraudulent letters printed from her own printer, and an in-person cash collection at her home. The scammers manipulated her through a four-hour phone call, convincing her to withdraw cash from her bank after transferring funds from her savings to checking and creating the false appearance of an $18,000 deposit. Investigators indicate this was part of a larger operation targeting multiple victims across several counties in the Triangle area.

The Asheville Police Department arrested two men—Theodore Anthony Brooks, 21, and Real Samuel Wells, 19—for an armed robbery and carjacking in Arden, North Carolina on August 14, where they robbed a victim at gunpoint after he entered a woman's residence he had contacted online, then drove off in his vehicle before dropping him off unharmed miles away. The investigation recovered the stolen iPhone and located the suspects at a Reed Street residence, where a search warrant yielded drugs (fentanyl, crack cocaine, marijuana) and firearms; a female suspect remains under investigation. The Asheville Police Department used this incident to highlight romance scams, in which criminals create fake online

Two men, Theodore Anthony Brooks (21) and Real Samuel Wells (19), were arrested in Asheville, North Carolina on August 14 in connection with an armed robbery and carjacking that occurred when a victim met a female contact from an online romance scam at her residence. The victim was robbed at gunpoint, driven several miles away, and his iPhone was later recovered at a residence on Reed Street where police also seized drugs and firearms. Brooks and Wells face multiple felony charges including robbery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, conspiracy, and larceny of a motor vehicle, with bonds set at $20,000 and $80,000 respectively, while charges are pending against the female suspect involved in the

Five people in Craven County, North Carolina were formally charged with a total of 139 felonies in connection with a financial exploitation scheme targeting an elderly couple that began in November 2023, with two of the suspects serving as in-home caregivers to the victims. The charges include identity theft, forgery, larceny, fraud, and elder exploitation, with lead suspect Ashley Berry facing 90 felony counts. Police urge family members and caregivers to monitor for financial exploitation involving in-home caregivers and contact Adult Protective Services with any suspicious activity.

A North Carolina woman lost over $17,000 in a sophisticated scam that began when she was redirected from her bank's website to fraudsters who gained remote access to her computer. The scammers manipulated her into believing her account was compromised by a PayPal charge and an IRS tax issue, then used her printer to forge official-looking bank and PayPal letters instructing her to withdraw cash; a man later arrived at her home to collect the money in person. The incident is part of a larger scam operation affecting multiple victims across several North Carolina counties.

North Carolina officials including Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall launched a statewide initiative with AARP and local partners to prevent cryptocurrency ATM scams, after reports of victims losing their life savings. The scams typically target older adults by establishing emotional connections and directing victims to transfer money from their bank accounts to cryptocurrency ATMs, which scammers then convert to cash and steal. The campaign aims to educate the public on warning signs, such as pressure to withdraw cash immediately or claims that government officials require crypto payments, and provides resources through 211 for residents to report suspicious activity and connect with law enforcement.

Scammers are exploiting JOANN Fabric's legitimate store closures by creating fake websites advertising bankruptcy sales with discounts up to 90% off, targeting North Carolina shoppers through Facebook, Pinterest, and Nextdoor ads. Victims who purchase from these fraudulent sites receive confirmation emails from unrelated businesses and never receive their items, with unauthorized charges appearing on their bank statements. The article advises consumers to verify sales directly through JOANN's official website, be wary of unrealistic discounts, use credit cards for better fraud protection, and report scams to the FTC, noting that legitimate JOANN clearance sales only occur in physical stores.

North Carolina's Attorney General Jeff Jackson launched a statewide initiative to combat cryptocurrency ATM scams that primarily target seniors, in which scammers direct victims to deposit cash into crypto accounts the scammers control. The awareness campaign encourages ATM operators to watch for warning signs such as older adults using machines while on the phone, indicating potential fraud in progress.

North Carolina officials launched a statewide initiative to combat Bitcoin ATM scams, which have caused victims millions of dollars in losses with cryptocurrency-related crime jumping nearly 1,300% from 2017 to 2023. The typical scam involves fraudsters impersonating trusted individuals via phone calls and directing victims to Bitcoin kiosks for urgent withdrawals, with seniors over 65 being the primary targets. Officials are encouraging businesses to post warning signs at crypto machines and urging the public to avoid unexpected cash withdrawals, delete suspicious messages, and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement or the NC Secretary of State.

North Carolina's Attorney General, Secretary of State, and AARP released an educational video called "Summer Scam Jam" to help residents identify and avoid seasonal scams including toll road cons, travel fraud, ticket schemes, and disaster relief scams. The initiative addresses the $12.5 billion in documented fraud losses reported in 2024, noting that for every reported senior scam case, 44 go unreported, and encourages victims to report fraud through the state's hotline and website.

More than 60 real estate agents nationwide have lost a combined $15 million in "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, where fraudsters build trust with agents through social media or text, pose as clients or financial advisors, and gradually coax them into investing on fraudulent crypto platforms before disappearing with the funds. The scams often exploit agents' access to MLS databases and their familiarity with large financial transactions, with victims like Tennessee agent Teri Radcliff losing over $200,000 and a North Carolina agent's family losing $815,000. The perpetrators frequently use deepfakes or video impersonation and withdraw victims' money through fake platforms before requesting additional security

A Greeneville woman lost nearly $600 in a warrant scam where a caller falsely claimed she had arrest warrants in all 50 states and demanded she purchase gift cards to avoid arrest. The victim purchased two prepaid cards totaling approximately $600 before becoming suspicious and contacting police, who confirmed the scam originated from a North Carolina phone number.

A North Carolina widower fell victim to a romance scam over nearly a decade, during which his girlfriend and her daughter convinced him to pay approximately $2,800 monthly in rent and living expenses in Los Angeles, causing him to struggle with basic obligations like property taxes. The scammer, a woman named Bobbie whom he met on a dating site in 2011, had a criminal history with arrests for assault and harassment, warning signs the family had flagged years earlier. The author discovered the fraud when her father revealed he could only cover half his property taxes, prompting her husband (a bankruptcy lawyer) to investigate and uncover the long-running financial exploitation.

Scammers are using stolen identities and AI-generated deepfakes to create "ghost students" who fraudulently obtain federal student aid before disappearing, leaving victims with damaged credit scores and fraudulent debt. Criminals obtain personal information through data breaches and phishing, then use AI bots to enroll in classes and trigger financial aid disbursements, while also impersonating FAFSA representatives to steal login credentials and Social Security numbers. To protect against this fraud, students should monitor credit regularly, enable two-factor authentication, and guard sensitive personal information closely.

**Summary:** Medicare fraud costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $60 billion annually, with recent investigations uncovering widespread schemes including unordered genetic testing kits, phantom billing for medical equipment, and catheter scams affecting individuals across Indiana and beyond. Notable prosecutions include a North Carolina man laundering $3 million in a $100 million DME scam and two Texas residents charged with $359 million in fraudulent genetic testing claims. Seniors should protect themselves by never sharing Medicare numbers with unverified callers, monitoring billing statements for unauthorized charges, and reporting suspicious activity to Medicare, the Senior Medicare Patrol, or the HHS Fraud Hotline.

The U.S. Attorney's Office co-hosted the 3rd Annual Walk for Awareness in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 11, 2025, ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, to raise awareness about financial, physical, and emotional abuse affecting seniors. According to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crimes Report, adults over 60 suffered $4.8 billion in financial losses and filed 147,127 complaints, with investment fraud, tech support scams, romance scams, and government impersonation being the most common schemes. The U.S. Attorney's Office has prosecuted multiple elder fraud cases involving millions of dollars and continues partnering with community organizations to

A 73-year-old Wells Fargo customer in North Carolina lost $61,000 to an impostor scam that began with a fake virus warning pop-up, which directed her to call a fraudulent Apple Care number. The scammers posed as Apple and Wells Fargo representatives, convincing her that her accounts were compromised and instructing her to withdraw cash and convert it to Bitcoin over several days. The victim became suspicious when the scammers asked her to meet at a police station to recover funds and reported the incident to the sheriff's office, which is investigating the case.

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.

Officials in Pitt County, North Carolina warned residents of a widespread DMV scam text campaign, where scammers impersonate the Department of Motor Vehicles and other trusted entities (UPS, tolls, jury duty) to create false urgency and pressure recipients into making immediate payments. The scam texts, which originate from random codes or email addresses rather than phone numbers, use threats of license revocation, jail time, or financial penalties to manipulate victims. Authorities advise residents to never click suspicious links, verify payment websites independently, and report suspicious texts to their mobile carrier or the Federal Trade Commission, noting that legitimate DMV communications never request payment via text.

A Catawba County woman lost over $160,000 to a government impersonation scam after being deceived by someone posing as a Department of Justice investigator who claimed she was under a gag order. Government impersonation crimes affected 17,367 people in 2024 with losses exceeding $405 million, while romance scams resulted in over $670 million in losses that year. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson emphasized the importance of reporting fraud quickly to enable money recovery and highlighted his office's success in prosecuting scammers, including cryptocurrency fraud cases, with recent convictions resulting in lengthy prison sentences and millions of dollars recovered.

A multi-state text scam impersonating the North Carolina DMV claimed recipients had unpaid traffic tickets or toll charges and threatened vehicle registration suspension or required payment of $6.99 within hours. The fraudulent texts included links to fake websites mimicking official DMV sites, designed to steal personal information or payment card details from drivers across North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, New York, and Florida. The NC DMV advises recipients not to respond, to block the sender, and to report the messages to the FTC via text to 7726.

Robert Lee Dzurenka, 27, was arrested in Randolph County, North Carolina, after deputies responded to a fraud complaint at a home in Ramseur. He was charged with felony exploitation of a disabled/elder adult and 12 counts of misdemeanor financial card fraud, with bail set at $15,000.

A North Carolina resident received a terrifying scam call spoofing her mother's phone number in which a man claimed to be holding her mother hostage and demanded immediate payment via PayPal. The victim became suspicious when the scammer demanded she not call police and couldn't provide proof of her mother's location, ultimately refusing to send money and calling 911 to confirm her mother's safety. The incident highlights how scammers exploit emotional connections and personal data to manipulate victims, and authorities recommend hanging up immediately, verifying the person's safety through direct contact, and reporting such calls to police.

A 21-year-old Indian student, Kishan Kumar Singh, was arrested in North Carolina for impersonating a federal agent to defraud a 78-year-old woman into withdrawing money under the false claim her bank accounts were compromised. Singh faces felony charges including elder exploitation and is being held on a $1 million bond, part of a growing pattern of Indian students involved in elder fraud schemes targeting seniors nationwide.

A 21-year-old Indian student, Kishan Kumar Singh, was arrested in North Carolina for impersonating a federal agent and attempting to defraud a 78-year-old woman by convincing her that her bank accounts were compromised and pressuring her to withdraw cash for "safekeeping"; he was apprehended when arriving to collect the money. This marks the third arrest of an Indian student in two weeks for targeting elderly Americans through similar government impersonation scams, with Singh now facing felony charges including attempted theft and elder exploitation under a $1 million bond.

A 21-year-old Indian student, Kishan Kumar Singh, was arrested in North Carolina after attempting to defraud an elderly woman by impersonating a federal agent. The suspect was taken into custody by Guilford County Sheriff's Office deputies on May 3.

A 21-year-old Indian student, Kishan Kumar Singh, was arrested in North Carolina for attempting to defraud a 78-year-old woman as part of a scheme in which scammers posing as law enforcement officers pressured her to withdraw money for "safekeeping" after falsely claiming her bank accounts were compromised. Singh faces felony charges including attempted obtaining of property by false pretenses and exploitation of an elder adult, and is being held on a $1 million bond. The case is part of a growing trend of scammers targeting elderly individuals in residential care facilities.

A 21-year-old international student, Kishan Kumar Singh, was arrested in Guilford County, North Carolina, after attempting to scam a 78-year-old Stokesdale woman by impersonating law enforcement officers and federal agents. The scammers falsely claimed the victim's name was linked to criminal activity and her bank accounts were compromised, pressuring her to withdraw money for "safekeeping" during an investigation. Singh was apprehended when he arrived at the victim's home to collect the money and is being held on a $1 million bond facing charges of felony attempting to obtain property by false pretenses and felony exploitation of an elder adult.

Debbie Crisp's mother, Donna, died suddenly in North Carolina, and while sorting through her belongings, Debbie's daughter discovered evidence that Donna had been the victim of a romance scam that stole over $400,000 from her. Donna had hidden this painful secret, leaving behind correspondence with the US Postal Inspection Service and a victim's advocate. A US Postal Inspector is now investigating the elaborate romance scam operation responsible for stealing millions from dozens of victims, with hopes of catching the ringleader and achieving justice for Donna and others affected.

Three Nigerian nationals—Olumide Olorunfunmi, Samson Amos, and Emmanuel Unuigbe—pleaded guilty to a multimillion-dollar money laundering conspiracy involving romance scams and business email compromise fraud that victimized over 125 individuals from 2020 to 2023. The conspirators deceived elderly victims and businesses into transferring funds, then laundered the money through multiple domestic and international accounts while converting stolen dollars to Nigerian currency at black market rates. The three defendants face a combined potential 60-year prison sentence, with money laundering charges carrying a maximum 20 years per defendant.

Amy Elizabeth Curry, an office manager and bookkeeper at Silver Bluff senior living facility in North Carolina, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for embezzling at least $1.5 million from the facility between December 2022 and April 2023. Curry made over 154 unauthorized bank transfers to accounts she controlled, deleted wire transfer records to avoid detection, and used the stolen funds for personal expenses including a truck purchase and over $700,000 in casino gambling. She was ordered to pay $1,469,407.24 in restitution to the facility.