WEEKLY SCAM ALERTS
Week of September 21, 2025

• New Social Security Scam Targets Seniors

• 22-Year-Old Scams Senior in Bank Phone Scheme

• Two Men Scam Seniors for $20,000

SENIOR SCAM NEWS
🛑 Gold Bars, Fake Agents, Hacked Retirements—How They Targeted 139 Seniors and Stole $11 Million

This week’s newsletter is a big one—and a hopeful one. The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York (WDNY), Michael DiGiacomo, announced the arrest of eight defendants across seven criminal complaints tied to schemes that defrauded or attempted to defraud at least 139 seniors of more than $11,053,989. The cases—brought under a new working group called Save Our Seniors (SOS)—span multiple states and multiple scam types. The SOS working group (formed April 2025) unites federal, state, and local partners—from the FBI, HSI, IRS-CI, SSA OIG, Secret Service, New York State Police, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Rochester Police Department, Monroe County DA, to Lifespan of Greater Rochester—to move fast, share intel, and stop the cash before it disappears.

Highlights from the complaints:

• Dhruv Patel, 34 (NJ): Charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and interstate transportation of stolen money. Prosecutors say he tried to pick up $567,000 in gold bars from a WDNY victim in a customer support scam—and was arrested weeks earlier in the Northern District of New York while attempting to pick up $48,000 from another senior. Alleged role: middleman connecting fraudsters and couriers nationwide. Accused losses: $9.1 million involving 12+ victims.

• Stephen Odiboh, 53 (GA): Charged with mail and wire fraud conspiracies and money laundering. Allegedly received $70,000 from a New York romance-scam victim who lost $175,000 total; prosecutors say he laundered the funds while on supervised release for a prior federal money-laundering conviction.

• Renee Thompson, 52 (FL): Charged with bank fraud and money laundering conspiracies. Allegedly created 17 counterfeit checks totaling $193,167 from a WDNY company and laundered them—despite a prior “money mule” warning letter and a prior bank embezzlement conviction.

• Christopher Hernandez, 29 (NJ): Charged with identity-document crimes, aggravated identity theft, computer fraud, and money laundering. Allegedly hacked a WDNY senior’s retirement account for $175,000, deposited the funds, and dispersed them—while also manufacturing/selling fraudulent IDs and bank cards using stolen PII.

• Touhedul Tuhin, 24, & Iftekhar Latif Nieon, 23 (OH): Charged with wire-fraud and money-laundering conspiracies. Allegedly collected $40,000 from a fake FTC scenario, $38,000 + $19,500 + $28,000 from tech-support scams in the WDNY, plus $15,000 from an Ohio senior. Accused losses: $276,000.

• Elias Circle, 23 (OH): Charged with wire/mail fraud and money-laundering conspiracies. Allegedly ran a “government restitution” email ruse from 2017–2024, inducing a WDNY elder to send ~$600,000.

• Estermarie Jones, 35 (NY): Charged with conspiracy, altering postal money orders (fifty $1 orders allegedly altered to $1,000 each), ID fraud, aggravated identity theft, access-device and bank-fraud conspiracies, and money laundering. Allegedly held 31 fraudulent/stolen IDs, 4 SSNs, 65 bank cards, and used victims’ PII to open accounts, register businesses, and withdraw funds. Accused losses: $190,032.

Let’s zoom in on the crime mechanics so readers can recognize this sooner. Here’s a revised newsletter that digs deep into how these scams actually run behind the scenes.

Inside the Machine: How Today’s Elder Scams Really Work (and Why SOS Cracked 8 Cases)

Below is the anatomy of the crime—step by step—so you can spot the trap three moves ahead.

1) Target selection: who gets called (and why)

Fraud crews assemble “lead lists” from:

• Old data breaches (emails, phone numbers, addresses).

• Public records (property rolls, voter registries, obituaries).

• Social media (age signals, life events, interests, recent losses).

• Prior victims (your info is re-sold if you ever engaged with a scam).

Tell: You get a call/text/pop-up precisely tailored to your bank, device (“Microsoft/Apple”), or life stage (“retirement”). That specificity isn’t luck—it’s data.

2) The first hook: high-pressure story + tech theater

Different scams, same spine: urgency + authority + isolation.

Tech/Customer Support scams (the “gold bar” cases):

• A pop-up or call claims your computer or accounts are compromised.

• You’re told to call a number and install remote access software so they can “help.”

• They move your mouse, open your bank page, point to “evidence,” and escalate you to a “bank investigator” or “federal agent.”

Romance/trust scams:

• Weeks of bonding online precede a money emergency (medical, travel, customs).

• Requests grow, secrecy increases, “proof” documents appear.

Government-impostor scams:

• A caller or letter with fake letterhead (FBI/FTC/DOJ/SSA) warns of legal danger or promises “restitution.”

• You’re told to keep it quiet “to avoid tipping off the criminals.”

Tell: Any demand to act immediately + tell no one is your built-in alarm bell.

3) The relay: multiple impostors to “prove” the lie

Crews stack authority by handing you from one impersonator to the next:

1. “Tech” finds the problem.

2. “Bank fraud” confirms a breach.

3. “Government” orders asset movement to “safety.”

Caller ID is often spoofed to show your bank/agency name. If you hesitate, you may get a follow-up letter (fake) to cement the illusion.

Tell: Three “independent” authorities all agree in minutes? That’s choreography, not coincidence.

4) The asset move: why they push wires, cashier’s checks, cash—or gold

Once fear sets in, they pivot to extraction:

• Wire transfers: fast, final, hard to claw back.

• Cashier’s checks / overnight mail: removes bank friction, creates speed.

• Cash pick-ups: courier meets you in a parking lot or at home.

• Gold bars: increasingly common because banks flag large wires, but bullion purchases look like personal investments. Couriers (“runners”) then collect gold at neutral sites.

• Crypto / payment apps: rapid, cross-border, obfuscation friendly.

In the SOS sweep, prosecutors say Dhruv Patel allegedly tried to pick up $567,000 in gold from a WDNY senior and weeks earlier $48,000 from another victim—classic “runner” behavior for customer-support/government impostor scams. Others in the cases are accused of laundering via counterfeit checks, “restitution” emails, and hacked retirement funds.

Tell: Any instruction to move money “for safekeeping”—especially to government-named accounts or through gold—is a 100% scam.

5) Laundering: how stolen money disappears

Once funds leave your control, they’re layered to hide the trail:

• Sent to money mules (people paid to move funds; some know, some don’t).

• Split among shell accounts and newly opened business accounts (created with fake IDs).

• Converted into crypto, gift cards, or precious metals.

• Withdrawn in cash across multiple ATMs/branches.

• Wired abroad or commingled with counterfeit check flows.

In the SOS arrests, one defendant (Renee Thompson) allegedly deposited 17 counterfeit checks; another (Christopher Hernandez) is accused of hacking a retirement account, then manufacturing and selling IDs and bank cards using stolen PII—textbook infrastructure for laundering and repeat cash-outs.

Tell: Requests to deposit a check “for someone,” send a portion elsewhere, or open accounts “for a new business opportunity” = mule recruitment.

6) Scripts & signals: what you’ll likely hear

Expect phrases like:

• “Do not tell your banker or family; you’ll jeopardize the investigation.”

• “Your funds must be moved to the Federal Reserve / a government account.”

• “This has to happen today or your funds will be seized.”

• “Buy gold bars because hackers can’t access physical assets.”

• “We’ll send an agent/courier to secure the evidence.”

Tell: Secrecy + speed + special payment = scripted fraud.

7) Why smart people fall for it (and how to defend the moment)

Why it works:

• Emotion overrides logic: fear for your life savings, shame, or the urge to fix a problem now.

• Authority stacking: multiple “officials” create a false consensus.

• Digital theater: remote cursor movement and spoofed caller ID feel real.

• Isolation: secrecy cuts you off from the very people who’d stop it.

How to break the spell—one sentence:

Then hang up. Do not argue. The longer you stay, the more hooks they set.

8) Special case studies from the SOS sweep (so you can spot variants)

• Gold-bar pickups (customer support → government impostor): Alleged in the Patel complaint; multiple scheduled meet-ups, neutral locations (parking lots, convenience stores), courier runners, six-figure extractions.

• Romance flow (confidence → crisis): Allegedly tied to Stephen Odiboh; victim lost $175,000, payments laundered while he was on supervised release for prior money laundering.

• Government “restitution” email (long-tail squeeze): Allegedly tied to Elias Circle; ~$600,000 extracted from one elder over years with official-sounding promises.

• Counterfeit checks & mule letters: Allegedly tied to Renee Thompson; continued laundering even after a money-mule warning letter—a reminder that banks actively flag this behavior.

• Retirement account hack + ID factory: Allegedly tied to Christopher Hernandez; $175,000 pulled from a senior’s retirement, parallel production/sale of fake IDs/bank cards using stolen PII.

9) A 10-step “friction plan” that stops most scams

1. Never call numbers in pop-ups, emails, or texts.

2. Never install remote-access tools at a caller’s request.

3. No secrecy agreements—ever.

4. Set bank alerts for withdrawals/wires and add a trusted contact.

5. Ask your branch for a “pause protocol” on large transactions to consult a manager.

6. If a caller claims to be your bank, hang up and call the number on your card.

7. If “government” calls, hang up and call the agency’s public .gov number.

8. Use a password manager + two-factor authentication (especially on email; that’s the reset key to everything).

9. Keep devices updated; run antivirus/malware scans monthly.

10. Keep a Family Rule: “No big money movement without two people on the decision.”

10) If you’ve already paid or installed remote access

Move fast:

• Disconnect the device from the internet; power it down.

• From a clean device, change email and bank passwords, turn on 2FA.

• Call your bank’s fraud team (number on card/statement); ask to freeze, review, and attempt recalls or holds.

• If you bought gold/cashier’s checks, call the dealer/bank immediately to flag and ask about reversal/hold options.

• Save everything: pop-ups, emails, caller IDs, receipts, tracking, serial numbers, surveillance times if you met a courier.

• File at IC3.gov (FBI).

• Get the device checked by a trusted local tech.

What real officials will never do (print this list)

They will not:

• Tell you to withdraw your money or convert it to gold.

• Send a person to your home/parking lot to collect cash.

• Ask you to wire money, send gift cards, Zelle, CashApp, Apple Pay, or crypto.

• Demand remote access to your computer or accounts.

• Request your full SSN or bank credentials by phone/email/text.

If any of that happens, it’s a scam—end the call.

The playbooks behind the losses—so you can spot them sooner

These cases covered a cross-section of modern elder fraud. Here’s how the most common schemes in this sweep typically operate:

1) Tech-Support / “Customer Support” → Gold-Bar or Wire Pickups

• You see a pop-up or get a call/text: “Your computer is locked” or “Your account is under attack.”

• You’re told to call a number or download remote-access software.

• A “technician” (really a scammer) “finds” fake problems, then “escalates” you to a bank or government “agent.”

• You’re ordered to withdraw cash, buy gold bars, or wire funds to “secure” them.

• A courier (or ride-share driver) picks up assets, sometimes at multiple meetups.

Reality check: No bank or agency protects assets by converting them to gold or collecting cash in person. Ever.

2) Government-Impostor & “Restitution” Emails

• You’re contacted by a supposed FBI/FTC/SSA/DOJ official—or receive a letter on fake letterhead—about “investigations,” “restitution,” or “seized funds.”

• You’re pressured to move money, pay fees, or provide PII.

• Some even script what to tell bank staff, and insist on secrecy.

Reality check: Real government workers do not meet you for cash, demand wires/crypto/gift cards, or tell you to hide it from family/bankers.

3) Romance & Trust Exploitation

• A new online contact (often abroad) builds intimacy, then introduces emergencies: medical bills, travel visas, customs fees, stuck transfers.

• Requests begin small, escalate, and become urgent and secret.

Reality check: Any online relationship that requires secrecy and money is a scam.

4) Counterfeit Checks & “Money Mule” Flows

• A check arrives to deposit “for a friend” or “for your new side gig.”

• You keep a cut and send the rest. The check later bounces, and you’re on the hook.

• Repeat “mule” behavior can lead to criminal charges, even if you didn’t start as the mastermind.

Reality check: Never move money for others. Banks warn, and prosecutors charge, mules.

5) Retirement Account Hacking & ID-Factory Fraud

• Criminals use phishing and leaked data to reset logins and drain retirement accounts.

• Parallel ID labs churn out fake driver’s licenses, bank cards, and shell companies to wash funds.

Reality check: Your email security (for password resets) is as crucial as your bank login.

12 red flags & friction points that stop scams cold

1. Pop-ups that demand you call a number—don’t.

2. Anyone asking you to install remote access.

3. Pressure to withdraw cash, buy gold, send crypto, wire funds, or mail cashier’s checks.

4. “Secrecy is essential” (a dead giveaway).

5. A stranger offering investment shortcuts, refunds, or “government restitution.”

6. A caller claiming to be your bank/fraud team—hang up and call back using the number on your card or statement.

7. Email addresses that are almost right (extra letters, misspelled domains).

8. Typos and urgent tone in “official” letters.

9. A new “friend” online who needs money.

10. Requests for gift cards, payment apps, or crypto to fix problems.

11. Instructions for what to say at your bank (they’re trying to beat the bank’s fraud checks).

12. Offers to move money “for safekeeping” to the “Federal Reserve” or a “government account.”

What real officials will never ask you to do

This list is straight from the U.S. Attorney’s guidance and worth printing:

• Withdraw your money or convert it to gold “for protection.”

• Meet you at home or a parking lot to collect cash.

• Ask you to wire money, send gift cards, crypto, Zelle, CashApp, Apple Pay, etc.

• Request remote access to your computer or accounts.

• Ask for your Social Security number or full bank details by phone/email/text.

If someone does any of the above, it’s a scam.

If you think you’re being targeted (or already paid)

1. Stop payments now. Tell your bank’s fraud team; give dates, amounts, and where funds went.

2. Save everything: emails, texts, receipts, shipping labels, screenshots of pop-ups, caller IDs, account numbers, and any “letters.”

3. Report immediately:

   • Local police or sheriff

   • New York State Police (if in NY)

   • FBI tipline at IC3.gov

4. Secure your accounts & devices: change email/bank passwords, enable 2FA, and have a trusted tech check your computer/phone for malware.

U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo put it plainly: Tell someone. Many seniors are embarrassed and stay quiet. Don’t. Quick reporting gives law enforcement a fighting chance to freeze funds, catch couriers, and shut down accounts before the money moves offshore.

Your Voice Could Be the Turning Point

If something feels wrong—it probably is.

Scammers count on silence. They rely on embarrassment to keep you quiet. But reporting a scam doesn’t make you a victim—it makes you part of the solution.

Whether you caught the scam in time or handed over money, your story can help catch criminals, protect others, and recover losses.

📢 What To Do If You’ve Been Targeted

If you're over 60 or helping a loved one navigate fraud, take action right away:

• 📞 Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline:
  1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)
  Trained professionals will guide you through the next steps—confidentially and with compassion.

• 💻 Report it online at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center:
  IC3.gov

• 🚔 Contact your local police department, even if the scam “didn’t work.” Every report builds a case.

What to Include in Your Report:

✅ Names, numbers, emails, pop-ups, and any “badge” or ID info used
✅ Bank and transaction details (dates, amounts, destinations)
✅ Receipts for gold, checks, wires, crypto, or gift cards
✅ Screenshots, device logs, shipping labels, and courier details

Share this newsletter with someone you love. A two-minute conversation today could save a lifetime of savings tomorrow.