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During tax season in South Dakota, scammers increased phone calls claiming recipients owed back taxes, using different voices, company names, and phone numbers with each message. The Better Business Bureau warned that the IRS never initiates contact via phone, email, or text demanding immediate payment—legitimate IRS contact comes first by mail—and requests for payment via gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or cash apps are definite indicators of fraud.

During National Consumer Protection Week 2024, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley highlighted that the Consumer Protection Division received over 64,000 scam complaints in 2023, noting that scammers increasingly use social media to manipulate consumers of all ages into divulging personal information. Key protective measures include resisting high-pressure sales tactics, rejecting unsolicited items, obtaining written contracts for services, hanging up on robocalls, being skeptical of free trials, and consulting trusted contacts before sharing money or personal information. Consumers suspecting scam victimization can report to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or via https://

Two suspects were arrested in Moorpark, California on March 7, 2024, for identity theft and conspiracy charges after intercepting packages containing significant sums of cash mailed by elderly victims from Texas, South Dakota, and Florida who had fallen victim to scams. Detectives identified the scheme after the first victim's adult child reported their elderly mother had mailed currency to the suspects' address, leading investigators to surveil and apprehend the two men when they arrived to retrieve a third package from a Florida victim. The suspects face multiple felony charges including grand theft, conspiracy, theft by false pretenses, and identity theft from an elder or dependent adult.

The City of Spearfish issued warnings about door-to-door construction scams, which typically increase during summer months when vendors solicit home repair work. The city advised residents to verify contractors' peddlers permits, request written price quotes in advance, require building permits for work, check references, verify business legitimacy and insurance coverage, and avoid paying bills upfront—recommendations aligned with the South Dakota Attorney General's office guidance.

The South Dakota Better Business Bureau has created a Scam Survival Toolkit to help fraud victims recover emotionally and practically after being scammed. The toolkit emphasizes that victims should overcome shame, seek help, and report incidents to the BBB's Scam Tracker or the state Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division to raise awareness and protect others. South Dakotans can report scams via email, phone, or online, and sign up for consumer protection alerts.

On June 15, 2024, the U.S. District of South Dakota joined national leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, emphasizing that one in ten older Americans are victims of elder abuse annually. The District highlighted ongoing efforts through initiatives like the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Money Mule Initiative to combat common schemes targeting seniors, including romance scams, tech support fraud, Social Security impostor scams, lottery scams, and IRS impersonation scams.

This letter warns seniors about a phone scam targeting Medicare beneficiaries, in which callers falsely claim to verify information about new plastic Medicare cards and request personal details over the phone. The author received such a call from South Dakota and refused to provide information, noting that plastic Medicare cards do not exist. The warning highlights the importance of not sharing personal information with unsolicited callers claiming to represent Medicare.

Dwayne Anderson, a 35-year-old Jamaican national, was extradited to South Dakota and appeared in court facing eight counts of wire fraud for operating a sweepstakes scam that defrauded a California woman over seven years (2010-2017). Using multiple aliases, Anderson convinced the victim she had won money and collected thousands in fraudulent fees and taxes, even persuading her to travel to Jamaica in 2017 where an additional $1,600 was collected, though she never received any winnings. Anderson faces up to 20 years per count, and the case highlights international law enforcement cooperation in prosecuting transnational elder fraud schemes.

Dwayne Anderson, a 35-year-old Jamaican national, was extradited to the United States and charged with eight counts of wire fraud for operating a sweepstakes scam targeting a California woman from 2010 to September 2017. Using false identities, Anderson contacted the victim repeatedly via phone, text, and email claiming she had won millions, convincing her to send thousands in supposed fees and taxes, and ultimately luring her to Jamaica in 2017 with instructions to bring $1,600 in cash—money she never recovered. Anderson faces up to 20 years in prison per count if convicted.

Cryptocurrency scams are increasingly common and take multiple forms, including romance scams where perpetrators build relationships then direct victims to fraudulent investment sites, tech support scams with fake pop-ups, and schemes impersonating authorities demanding payment in cryptocurrency. According to South Dakota's Attorney General and digital forensics experts, consumers should only use reputable cryptocurrency platforms independently, never send cryptocurrency or payment information to unsolicited requestors, and report suspected scams to protect others and aid law enforcement investigation.

I cannot provide a summary of this content as it appears to be only a website navigation menu and header structure for NCN (a Nebraska news station), rather than an actual article about fraud, scams, or elder abuse. Please provide the full article text you'd like me to summarize.

This article discusses elder abuse protections across the United States, highlighting that the elderly population is projected to nearly double from 49 million to 95 million by 2060, making protective measures increasingly urgent. States like Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts rank highest in elder abuse prevention due to strong funding and robust regulations, while rural states such as South Carolina, Utah, and South Dakota lag significantly due to policy gaps and insufficient resources. Financial fraud is identified as a prevalent form of elder abuse affecting elderly individuals, with states offering stronger safeguards—such as ombudsman services and elder care organizations—demonstrating lower average financial losses per fraud case.

This summary does not belong in the Elderus elder fraud database. The case involves child sexual exploitation and abuse, not elder fraud or elder abuse. Elderus focuses on scams and fraud targeting older adults.

The Better Business Bureau is warning of a surge in identity and information scams, with federal agencies logging over three million cases in the past year. BBB South Dakota recommends freezing credit with major reporting agencies to prevent scammers from opening accounts or taking loans in victims' names.

I cannot provide a summary of this article because the content provided is only a website navigation menu and header structure from NCN (Nebraska's News Channel). There is no actual article text, news story, or content about scams, fraud, or elder abuse to summarize. Please provide the full text of the article you'd like me to summarize for the Elderus database.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for South Dakota designated June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month to highlight the widespread impact of elder fraud and abuse, which affects millions of seniors annually by compromising their finances, security, and dignity. Warning signs of elder fraud include unexplained bank withdrawals, suspicious signatures on financial documents, abrupt changes to wills, and unpaid bills despite adequate funds, while common scams involve impersonation (kidnapping/arrest claims), romance fraud, and gift card schemes. The Justice Department provides resources including Senior Scam Alerts and a dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11) for reporting and assistance.

I cannot provide a summary for this content as it does not contain information about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. The article excerpt appears to be a news headline list covering local topics such as sports, environmental issues, highway safety, and charitable donations. Please provide an article related to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse for summarization.

Court scams involve fraudsters impersonating judicial officials or law enforcement via phone calls, texts, or emails to demand money or personal information by threatening arrest for missed jury duty, court appearances, or unpaid traffic tickets. Courts and law enforcement never demand immediate payment via cryptocurrency or apps, threaten people over the phone, or request sensitive information through electronic communication. Victims should refuse requests, avoid engaging with scammers, verify claims directly with local court offices, and report incidents to local law enforcement, the South Dakota Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, or the Federal Trade Commission.

The Better Business Bureau warned South Dakotans about online used car scams after Sioux Falls resident Mike Henriksen nearly fell victim to fraudsters on social media who offered vehicles at suspiciously low prices with fake eBay payment links, claiming to be selling due to divorces or relocations. The BBB helped Henriksen identify the red flags and avoid losing thousands of dollars, advising consumers that unusually good deals on online car sales are typically fraudulent.

A Sioux Falls retiree nearly fell victim to a "secret shopper" scam after responding to an online job ad and receiving a FedEx package with fraudulent checks and instructions to deposit them and purchase money orders totaling $985. The victim avoided losing money by consulting his banker, who confirmed the checks were counterfeit and could have allowed scammers to drain his entire account. The South Dakota Attorney General's Office warns residents to verify any offers involving money transfers and to contact Consumer Protection if unsure about a job opportunity's legitimacy.