AI voice calls and fixed incomes put older adults at risk for financial scams, researchers say

Florida State University researchers say education is key to stopping financial exploitation of older Americans

By Caresse Jackman

(InvestigateTV) — Financial scams targeting older adults are evolving, and researchers say the combination of traditional fraud tactics and new technology — including AI-generated voice calls — is making them harder to detect.

Julie Brancale, an assistant professor at Florida State University, and Dean Thomas Blomberg study the causes and consequences of financial exploitation against older adults.

“We try to take all of our research and translate that into policy and practice recommendations that can make a meaningful difference and try to help stop this growing social problem,” Brancale said.

Brancale said fraudsters often look for specific vulnerabilities among older adults.

“Older adults, they have accumulated wealth throughout their life,” Brancale said. “A lot of them are retiring and living off of a fixed income. And couple that with just age-related changes that older adults are experiencing — an increase in the frequency of health conditions, perhaps a mild cognitive decline.”

Blomberg said the rise of artificial intelligence has added new dimensions to an already persistent problem.

“AI is introducing all these new dimensions,” he said. “And it’s a constant barrage and many feel overwhelmed and a level of helplessness.”

Blomberg added education is one of the most important tools for combating financial fraud against older adults.

“I think one of the biggest things that we are doing and trying to do is education,” Blomberg said. “And if you talk to victims, they will tell you, we need more education.”

Blomberg and Brancale said it is also important to teach students about elder abuse and financial fraud at the higher education level.

“We want our graduates to be change makers, positive change makers,” Blomberg said. “And so they’ve got to be scientifically trained, but they also have to have the knowledge on how to implement and how to work with people to make the world a better place.”

Experts say one of the main red flags in financial scams is urgency. If someone demands that money be sent immediately, experts recommend stopping, slowing down and speaking with a trusted person before taking any action. 

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AI voice calls and fixed incomes put older adults at risk for financial scams, researchers say 

Woman accused of exploiting ailing elderly man at West Palm Beach assisted living facility

by Malcolm Shields 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Port St. Lucie woman is facing another allegation of defrauding an elderly person.

According to Palm Beach County court records, Megan E. Bernat, 46, was arrested on Wednesday, July 22, on exploitation of elderly and money laundering transactions charges.

Bernat was arrested on Sept. 3, 2025, on charges of personal identity fraud, exploitation of an elderly person and money laundering transactions of a 73-year-old woman in West Palm Beach.

Megan Elizabeth Bernat

During the West Palm Beach Police Department’s investigation into the 2025 case, it was discovered that another bank account was used to make more than $30,000 worth of payments to Bernat’s credit card.

The account was frozen by the bank, which prevented the account’s use.

Detectives determined the frozen account belonged to a 92-year-old man who lived at the MorseLife assisted living facility in West Palm Beach along with the first victim.

Bernat was a social worker at the living facility, and she was assigned as the second victim's full-time care manager beginning on Dec. 30, 2021.

She assisted with the second victim's financial records.

During that time, the second victim suffered from 18 medical problems including dementia and needed help with routine tasks like laundry, getting dressed and going to the restroom.

According to the arrest report, the second victim died on March 15, 2024, about two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19.

Detectives determined that the second victim’s bank account was used 30 times to make mobile payments to a credit card account connected to Bernat.

An investigation also revealed Bernat’s credit card was part of 30 transactions totaling $31,295.28 between May 11, 2023, and April 22, 2024.

Seven of the 30 transactions occurred while the second victim was in hospice, including six transactions after he died on March 15, 2024.

During a Thursday, July 23 court hearing, a judge ordered Bernat to serve in-house arrest, wear a GPS monitor with bail set at $30,000. 

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Woman accused of exploiting ailing elderly man at West Palm Beach assisted living facility 

Osceola couple denied bond in alleged elder abuse case

By Amy Diaz

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — An Osceola County couple accused of operating multiple unlicensed assisted living facilities appeared before a judge Thursday, where both were ordered held without bond.

Ronald Pack, 60, and Marie Carenan, 56, face charges including scheme to defraud, aggravated elder abuse, and elder neglect.

According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the arrests followed a multi-agency investigation into several facilities in Osceola and Polk counties. Authorities said they shut down three locations in Osceola County, while the Polk County Sheriff’s Office closed three additional homes.

Investigators said they received more than 300 calls for service at the Osceola County facilities since the beginning of 2024. The investigation also uncovered repeated complaints to the Florida Department of Children and Families alleging physical, sexual and psychological abuse, as well as fraud involving public assistance benefits.

The arrest affidavit alleges investigators found padlocked doors, locked refrigerators, and unqualified staff administering medication. At one home on Gillingham Court, investigators said they found deteriorating conditions, including ceiling leaks, and a bedridden patient being cared for without the required licensing.

Channel 9 was at that home as investigators executed a search warrant and watched as nine patients were removed. The sheriff’s office said a total of 38 patients were transported from the three Osceola County homes. DCF has not said where the patients were taken.

The affidavit also details a March 13, 2025, call from a resident at one of the facilities reporting that patients were being left on the floor for hours. A responding deputy found one elderly woman yelling in pain and another lying on the floor under a blanket. The second woman told deputies she had fallen the previous day and had been left on the floor for hours, according to the report.

Both suspects are expected in court again on June 29 for a pre-trial hearing.

The investigation remains ongoing. 

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Osceola couple denied bond in alleged elder abuse case 

Man charged with elder abuse, dumping mother's body in river

Reporter: Maddie Herron, Haley Zarcone 

A man is now in custody after authorities linked him to his mother's death. 

The Lee and Charlotte County sheriffs announced the arrest in a joint news conference. WINK News reporter Maddie Herron was there and spoke with neighbors in Twin Pine Villages, a North Fort Myers neighborhood where the man was arrested. Deputies confirmed to WINK News that the woman was identified as the mother of 47-year-old Joshua Cullen.

Body camera footage showed Joshua Cullen getting arrested outside his North Fort Myers home on Hitzing Avenue, where he was living with his mother he claimed to be caring for. Cullen reported her missing on Memorial Day, but detectives say she had been dead for weeks.

"What began as a missing person investigation soon revealed a web of lies," Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said.

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno stood next to Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell as they announced Cullen's arrest was a major break in a weeks-long Jane Doe death investigation out of the Peace River in Charlotte County.

"These remains were wrapped in blankets rolled inside a rug and bound with tape," Marceno said.

Once deputies found the woman's body, they began searching for evidence near the Peace River.

"Some of the things they collected were a wheelbarrow, blue straps, and a ladder," Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said.

Some of the items appear on top of Cullen's car in surveillance photos. The pictures helped create a timeline and tie Cullen to the scene.

"That's not right. You don't do that to somebody, somebody's mother, somebody's daughter," North Fort Myers neighbor John Fenlon said.

Cullen is charged with neglect of an elderly person and abuse of a dead human body. This remains an active investigation.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case. WINK News is working to learn more about the victim and has reached out to the suspect's family.

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Man charged with elder abuse, dumping mother's body in river 

Panama City man charged with exploiting elderly woman’s assets

by: Adele Henley

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A Panama City man was arrested for allegedly exploiting an elderly person out of more than $50,000 worth of property.

On May 26, a report was filed with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office by the daughter of an elderly woman. The woman has dementia, and her daughter has been deemed her legal guardian and has full responsibility over her mother’s finances.

The report stated that the daughter was speaking with a realtor to sell some properties belonging to her mother when she discovered that one of her properties had been sold to a company called WAAC LLC on May 5. The properties had been sold for only $1, the affidavit reports.

The listed owner was 55-year-old Wayne Clarke. When the daughter asked her mother, she said that a male had come to her house and asked if he could use her lot to set up food trucks. 

Her mother agreed to allow the use of the property temporarily, but did not recall going to the clerk’s office to sell the property.

When the daughter went to the clerk’s office, the notary who had notarized the quit-claim deed said that they remembered her mother coming to the courthouse with two males and signing the paperwork, the affidavit says.

The daughter hired a lawyer and sent legal demand letters to two addresses allegedly belonging to Clarke, but had not received a response by May 26, when she went to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

On Wednesday, investigators interviewed the notary, who claimed that the only time they spoke with the woman was when she asked for her driver’s license before she signed the quit-claim deed.

The notary reported that one of the men had filled out all the paperwork, and the woman only signed the form. When the notary asked if there was a purchase amount, the woman said no, but the men allegedly stated $1.

Investigators proceeded to interview Clarke, who said he was introduced to the woman through her son.

Clarke said that the woman had asked him to come see her about the property because he wanted to clean it up for her, and she offered to turn the property over to him to help him out.

Clarke said that the woman had filled out all the paperwork and had come up with the purchase amount of $1 on her own, and that he did not take advantage of her.

The affidavit says that Clarke was charged with exploitation of a disabled adult over the amount of $50,000 and grand theft in the amount of $20,000 to $100,000. His first arraignment has been set for July 16. 

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Panama City man charged with exploiting elderly woman’s assets 

Caregiver stole and pawned jewelry from elderly patients, Miami-Dade sheriff says

Denise Robinson, 58, of Homestead, is facing charges including exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult, dealing in stolen property, and false verification of ownership, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office officials said Thursday.

By NBC6

A South Florida caregiver is facing charges after authorities said she stole and pawned jewelry worth over $50,000 that was owned by her elderly patients including one who's 95.

Denise Robinson, 58, of Homestead, is facing charges including exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult, dealing in stolen property, and false verification of ownership, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office officials said Thursday.

Authorities said Robinson worked as a caregiver for elderly and vulnerable adults who require daily assistance with personal care and medication management.

An investigation found that Robinson was taking the victims' jewelry without their authorization and pawning it and keeping the proceeds, authorities said.

The jewelry stolen was valued at around $56,500, and authorities said they found documentation that linked Robinson to the sale of the jewelry at pawn shops.

The charges stem from three victims, ages 95, 83, and 81.

"The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office remains committed to protecting elderly and vulnerable residents and holding accountable those who exploit positions of trust for personal gain," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

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Caregiver stole and pawned jewelry from elderly patients, Miami-Dade sheriff says 

Riviera Beach man accused of exploiting grandma with severe dementia to control finances

by Grace Bellinghausen 

Police say a Riviera Beach man quietly took control of his grandmother’s home, finances, and care by exploiting her worsening dementia. (Palm Beach County Jail, Getty Images)

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Police say a Riviera Beach man quietly took control of his grandmother’s home, finances, and care by exploiting her worsening dementia.

According to a Riviera Beach Police Department probable cause affidavit, the investigation began on February 5 after a family member reported concerns that her 71-year-old mother was being taken advantage of by her grandson, 52-year-old Roderick Mitchell.

The family member told police she had served as her mother’s power of attorney since 2006, after severe dementia left the woman unable to make major decisions.

But in 2025, she said Mitchell transferred power of attorney to himself and executed a quitclaim deed on his grandmother’s home without her knowledge.

The victim alleged Mitchell, who lived in the home, prevented family members from checking on her welfare and at times threatened to burn the house down. The allegations were referred to the Florida Department of Children and Families, which opened an elder abuse investigation.

DCF investigators determined the woman was a vulnerable adult with severe dementia, diabetes, and mobility issues requiring a walker. The report stated Mitchell acted as her caregiver but was not acting in her best interest, raising concerns about missed insulin care, alcohol use, and aggressive behavior when intoxicated.

Mitchell reportedly acknowledged to investigators that he drank alcohol and did not personally administer insulin, instead relying on others for injections. He also admitted making decisions regarding power of attorney and property without consulting the victim or family members, claiming he was protecting the home.

A doctor who had treated her since 2018 reported progressive cognitive decline and stated in a 2025 letter that she required round-the-clock care and could not manage her finances, according to documents obtained by police.

Investigators also alleged Mitchell filed a second fraudulent quitclaim deed in April 2026 listing a suspicious address tied to a junkyard. Authorities said he later invoked his right to an attorney during questioning.

Detectives ultimately charged Mitchell with multiple felonies, including exploitation of an elderly person, fraudulent use of personal identification, grand theft over $50,000, and filing false documents involving real property.

On Saturday, officers located Mitchell in Riviera Beach and arrested him without incident. He was booked and later transferred to the Palm Beach County Jail. 

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Riviera Beach man accused of exploiting grandma with severe dementia to control finances 

Elder Fraud Unit arrests NC woman for grand theft and money laundering

May 22, 2026

Case #: 2026-001198

A Charlotte, North Carolina, woman was arrested this week for her alleged role in scamming a 66-year-old Bradenton man out of at least $100,000. 

May 18, 2026, Elder Fraud Detective Jim Curulla, with assistance from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, arrested Elizabeth Ann Hildbrand, 51, on charges of Grand Theft and Money Laundering. Hildbrand is awaiting extradition to Manatee County. 

The victim filed a fraud report with BPD in February 2026. He reported investing approximately $300,000 over two years with an online company called "Tesla 1." The victim realized he'd been scammed after attempting to withdraw money from his "Tesla 1" investment account. 

The victim reported communicating via text messages and the Telegram app with two individuals acting as "brokers," including Hildbrand. Financial records indicated the victim transferred a total of $87,651 through wire transfers and cashier's checks to bank accounts owned by Hildbrand. Additionally, the victim purchased Apple gift cards totaling $22,500 and provided the card numbers and PINs to the "brokers." He also mailed an undetermined amount of cash. 

Subpoenas for Hildbrand's financial records indicated she deposited much of the victim's money into her accounts and subsequently made numerous cryptocurrency transactions. 

Following her arrest, Hildbrand agreed to speak with Detective Curulla. She stated she believed she was romantically involved with "Elon Musk" and agreed to help the billionaire purchase cryptocurrency. Hildbrand said she later realized she had become the victim of a romance scam; however, investigators determined she continued to accept money from the Bradenton victim and transfer the funds into cryptocurrency. 

The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report shows that Cyber-related crimes cost Americans nearly $21 billion last year. Actual losses are likely significantly higher because many scams go unreported. Investment scams and romance scams ranked among the top five most commonly reported and costliest online scams. 

In 2025, cases investigated by BPD's Elder Fraud Unit accounted for approximately $8 million in reported losses. So far this year, the unit has investigated losses of at least $750,000 (as of May 1, 2026).  

For information on the Bradenton Police Department Elder Fraud Unit, as well as resources to protect yourself against common scams, visit Bradentonpd.com/Elder-Fraud-Unit. 

Source:
Elder Fraud Unit arrests NC woman for grand theft and money laundering 

‘You're going to need him': Miami-Dade judge tells suspect in elderly fraud to listen to lawyer

Jimmy Altidor, 34, is facing multiple charges including organized scheme to defraud, fraudulently using or possessing personal identification, obtaining property by false personation, communications fraud, unlawful use of a communications device, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and property damage, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office officials said.

By Brian Hamacher

RAW: Jimmy Altidor, 34, is facing multiple charges including organized scheme to defraud, fraudulently using or possessing personal identification, obtaining property by false personation, communications fraud, unlawful use of a communications device, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and property damage, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office officials said.

A South Florida man suspected in a scheme that targeted elderly victims using Uber drivers to take their money has been arrested after he fled from deputies earlier this month, authorities said.

Jimmy Altidor, 34, is facing multiple charges including organized scheme to defraud, fraudulently using or possessing personal identification, obtaining property by false personation, communications fraud, unlawful use of a communications device, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and property damage, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office officials said.

According to an arrest report, the sheriff's office Organized Crimes Bureau's Vice Intelligence Squad has been investigating multiple elder fraud incidents in which suspects used an Uber rider account to request trips to collect money from victims.

The suspects contact the elderly victims by phone pretending to be bank employees or federal agents and claiming the victims' accounts have been compromised before they persuade the victims to disclose sensitive bank information and surrender funds.

An Uber is then arranged by the suspects to be sent to the victims to pick up cash, credit cards or other financial instruments that are delivered to the suspects.

During the investigation Altidor, of Coral Springs, was identified as a possible suspect and on May 5 investigators learned of a possible suspicious Uber pickup involving an account Altidor opened in 2025, the report said.

Records showed that between October 2025 and May 2026 the rider name associated with the account changed 10 times "in an apparent effort to evade Uber investigations and continue fraudulent activities," the report said.

Detectives responded to the Uber drop off location and saw the driver arrive and Altidor get out of a Mercedes Benz E63 AMG and collect the package from the Uber driver, the report said.

Detectives approached and told Altidor to stop but he got in his car and fled, causing a sergeant and a detective to get out of the vehicle's path to avoid being hit, the report said.

Altidor sideswiped a unmarked police vehicle as he fled and deliberately struck a detective's unmarked car as a high-speed pursuit ensued onto I-95, the report said.

The chase continued until authorities lost sight of Altidor, and the Mercedes was later found abandoned, the report said.

Detectives later spoke with spoke with a 77-year-old victim who said she received a call from a man who claimed to be a Chase bank employee who said there were fraudulent charges on her Chase card.

She said she gave the caller her online password, and was instructed to go to her bank and withdraw $14,000 from her account.

After she withdrew the money she was told to put it in an envelope and bring it to an FBI courier, which she did.

She later received a call and was told to give her Chase credit card to another FBI courier, and gave the card to a person who turned out to be the Uber driver who later met with Altidor, the report said.

On Monday, Altidor arrived at MDSO's Kendall District Station to surrender himself, and he was arrested and booked into jail, the report said.

Altidor appeared before a judge on Tuesday who listened as a prosecutor outlined the allegations against him before addressing Altidor.

"Mr. Altidore, do you have a mother? Do you have a grandmother?" Judge David H. Young asked. "How's she doing, is she good? Is she financially okay? What happens if somebody scammed her, how would you feel about that?"

"I would feel horrible," Altidor responded.

"The smartest thing you've done in the last 24 hours is hire an incredible lawyer, you're going to need him," Young said later in the hearing. "You will listen to him."

Young set Altidor's bond at $49,000 plus house arrest.

"Clearly there are other people involved, Mr. Altidore may be purely innocent, he may not have known or been aware of the criminality of the investigation or the actions of others that were happening at the time," defense attorney Jonathan Jordan said.

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‘You're going to need him': Miami-Dade judge tells suspect in elderly fraud to listen to lawyer  

Woman scammed 87-year-old widow out of $100k in romance scam, warrant says

Lori Mitchell, 59, of Fort Lauderdale, is facing charges of grand theft and exploitation of an elderly person 

By NBC6 

A South Florida woman is facing serious charges after she defrauded an 87-year-old widow out of over $100,000 by manipulating him into believing they were in a romantic relationship, authorities said.

Lori Mitchell, 59, of Fort Lauderdale, is facing charges of grand theft and exploitation of an elderly person, according to an arrest report from the Broward Sheriff's Office.

The alleged crimes happened between November 2011 and February 2013, according to an arrest warrant. During that time, Mitchell allegedly befriended the then-87-year-old victim, who was lonely after his wife died, and offered to do some interior decorating in his home.

According to the warrant, Mitchell convinced the victim that they were in a romantic relationship by spending time with him and going on dinner dates.

Mitchell would ask the victim for cash loans to fix a million-dollar home in Long Island that she claimed she owned and needed to sell, and promised she would pay him back, the warrant said.

The victim would take out cash loans from several accounts, and the loans eventually totaled up to $108,310, the warrant said. The victim also allegedly helped Mitchell lease a brand-new vehicle, took her out shopping and out to dinner a few times a week.

In the final month of their relationship, Mitchell asked the victim for another $20,000, and the victim turned her down, saying he was in financial hardship and could no longer support her, the warrant said. Mitchell proceeded to ignore the victim and no longer contacted him.

"The defendant made the elderly victim believe that they were in a romantic relationship and preyed upon his loneliness to obtain financial gain," the warrant concluded.

Mitchell was arrested Friday and appeared in bond court on Saturday, where a judge set her bond to $50,000.

The victim died in 2023, according to a prosecutor. 

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Woman scammed 87-year-old widow out of $100k in romance scam, warrant says

Accountant accused of stealing $13,500 from elderly client with cognitive decline

Story by Jake Jordan

A Marion County accountant is charged with serious fraud after investigators claim she stole money from clients, including an elderly woman with cognitive decline.

Cara Lee Priess, age 55, was taken into custody on May 5, 2026, by the Ocala Police Department based on a warrant from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. She faces charges of organized fraud, grand theft, and elderly exploitation.

Investigators say the case began in 2024, when the owner of GoldMark Farm reported suspicious payments to Priess, who had been hired to handle the farm’s bills and taxes.

According to deputies, the farm owner discovered large invoices for accounting “deep dives” that were never requested. The invoices claimed 688 hours of work and totaled nearly $190,000.

Detectives discovered payments made to Priess that were reportedly not correctly recorded in the farm’s accounting records.

Months later, investigators uncovered another case involving an 89-year-old woman who trusted Priess as her accountant.

Authorities state that Priess issued checks to herself from the victim’s account and forged her signature. Detectives reported that the elderly victim, who has cognitive impairments, told them she would pay whatever Priess requested.

Records showed about $13,500 in fraudulent checks were deposited into Priess’ account, investigators said.

During interviews, Priess claimed she possessed documents verifying the transactions’ legitimacy. However, investigators state she never handed over the records and ultimately ceased communication with law enforcement.

After reviewing financial records and subpoenas, detectives secured an arrest warrant in April 2026. 

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Accountant accused of stealing $13,500 from elderly client with cognitive decline

Scammer stole $350,000 from Manatee County senior with dementia, deputies say

 By Michael Moore Jr.

A man entrusted with managing a woman’s finances after she developed dementia is accused of spending more than $350,000 on himself, investigators say. 

Richard James Meyers, 64, faces a charge of exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult involving $50,000 or more following an investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, court records show. 

An attorney representing Meyers did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment. 

Investigators say Meyers abused his authority as the woman’s power of attorney, siphoning off money for personal expenses while failing to pay for her care. 

The woman developed dementia nearly 10 years ago and granted Meyers control over her finances, according to court records. Over the next several years, detectives allege he transferred money from a shared account into his own and spent it on himself.

A forensic review of bank records identified hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending that did not benefit the woman, including tens of thousands of dollars on electronics, groceries, rent, restaurants and entertainment, according to an arrest report. 

Man stole $350K from Manatee woman, deputies say 

Investigators said the purchases included more than $3,000 at Mixon Fruit Farm, nearly $3,000 at Ashley Furniture, charges at Firestone and a gold and diamond retailer. 

The spending also included nearly $17,000 at a Kia dealership for a vehicle purchase, nearly $3,000 on a golf cart, more than $12,000 in wedding expenses, $13,000 in pet-related costs and more than $10,000 in payments to “son and wife,” according to an arrest report. 

Detectives said Meyers allegedly moved at least $39,000 directly into his personal account and frequently drained the joint account down to only a few hundred dollars.

While using the money for his own expenses, investigators say Meyers failed to pay for the woman’s medical and living needs. The neglect led to lawsuits from a home care provider and a nurse who were not paid for services, court records show. 

Investigators also allege Meyers did not file the woman’s federal tax returns for several years despite being responsible for her finances. 

The investigation began more than a year after the woman died, when her daughter reported suspected financial abuse, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said. 

Deputies arrested Meyers on April 29. He later posted a $25,000 bond and was released from the Manatee County jail, court records show. He has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. 

Meyers is scheduled to appear in Manatee County court for arraignment on June 12, according to court records. 

Records show Meyers was in Alabama at the time of his arrest and later returned to Manatee County to face the charge. 

Seniors targeted in Bradenton-area scams

Meyers’ case comes as local officials warn that financial crimes targeting older adults are a growing concern.

Investigators with the Bradenton Police Department have described elder fraud as an “epidemic,” with victims often losing their life savings to scams and financial exploitation. Police say many cases go unreported, as victims can feel embarrassed or reluctant to come forward.

Under Florida law, exploitation of an elderly person involving $50,000 or more is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

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Scammer stole $350,000 from Manatee County senior with dementia, deputies say  

BSO fire lieutenant bonds out of jail after elderly abuse on-duty allegations

During a bond hearing, a judge set Lewin's bond at $50,000 and barred him from working as a paramedic, EMT, or firefighter while the case is pending.  

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BSO fire lieutenant bonds out of jail after elderly abuse on-duty allegations 

Florida caregiver accused of using $79K of elderly victim’s funds for trips, shopping

by Grace Bellinghausen

A West Palm Beach caregiver was arrested Friday after investigators say she quietly drained more than $79,000 from an elderly woman she was hired to help. (Palm Beach County Jail, Getty Images)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A West Palm Beach caregiver was arrested Friday after investigators say she quietly drained more than $79,000 from an elderly woman she was hired to help.

Investigators with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office say 27-year-old Marta Cisneros exploited the 79-year-old woman she was caring for, stealing nearly $80,000 between July 2024 and June 2025. Deputies say Cisneros was hired to help with daily living activities, including personal care and transportation, and through that role gained access to the elderly victim's financial records, bank accounts, credit cards, and mail.

The investigation began in June of 2025 when the victim reported unauthorized transactions on her account to PBSO. Investigators say the victim, who typically paid bills by check, discovered repeated ATM withdrawals and credit card charges she did not recognize and insisted she never used a debit card or made ATM transactions.

When deputies met with the victim, they found that many financial records and statements were missing during the time Cisneros was employed by her.

According to investigators, American Express had previously flagged suspicious charges and issued a replacement card, but because Cisneros handled the victim's mail, she would have had access to the new card without her knowledge.

Records revealed $79,041 in fraudulent transactions, including nearly 50 ATM withdrawals—totalling over $30,000 — made over the course of Cisneros' employment. Surveillance video and witnesses later corroborated that Cisneros was behind the suspicious activity.

Among the purchases and charges flagged as fraudulent were:

• Repeated gift card purchases, including $750 at Starbucks
• Hundreds of dollars in food delivery services
• A Los Tigres del Norte concert at the Hard Rock Casino
• A Rapids Water Park cabana rental
• Airline tickets
• A variety of clothing, shoes, and perfume purchases
• Traffic ticket fines
• Car payments

Detectives say they also uncovered dozens of questionable checks, many written directly to Cisneros or cashed by her, along with others linked to her family members.

During a phone interview in December 2025, Cisneros denied the allegations and claimed she only used the victim's credit card with her permission. She also claimed that the victim had memory issues; however, a review of records revealed that the victim did not have any ongoing problems with memory.

Due to the evidence, deputies found probable cause to book Cisneros for counts of exploiting the elderly $10K to $50K, and using a false identity.

Full Article & Source:
Florida caregiver accused of using $79K of elderly victim’s funds for trips, shopping  

A Daughter’s Fight for Truth Turned into a Guardianship and Probate Nightmare

(By Pamela Locke Bimberg, Daughter) – My mother suffered a brain aneurysm in March 2005, and our family’s life changed forever. For years after that medical crisis, my father and I stood by her side, along with my siblings.

Before my mother became incapacitated, she handled all of the personal and business finances because my father was limited in his ability to do so. My father then insisted that I step into that role and do everything my mother had done, including helping manage their personal finances, her rental properties, and his road-building and land-clearing business.

I was not a stranger to my mother’s care, and I was not a stranger to my parents’ finances. My father and I were as close as a daughter and father could be from the day I was born. I was a true daddy’s girl. I was his favorite, and he made that known. CONTINUE

Source:
A Daughter’s Fight for Truth Turned into a Guardianship and Probate Nightmare 

Terri Schiavo Guardianship Records to Remain Confidential, Court Rules - State Affairs

BY JIM SAUNDERS

Key Points

1. State appeals court rejects bid to unseal Terri Schiavo records
2. Schiavo died in 2005 after feeding tube removal
3. The court cited a state law keeping guardianship records confidential

Two decades after Pinellas County resident Terri Schiavo died following high-profile legal, political and ethical battles over removing her feeding tube, a state appeals court has rejected an attempt to unseal records about the case.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal on Wednesday denied the attempt by Schiavo’s brother and mother — Bobby and Mary Schindler — and an advocacy group, the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network.

Schiavo died March 31, 2005, 15 years after she sustained severe brain damage because of a cardiac arrest at age 26. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, sought permission in 1998 to remove her feeding tube, drawing fierce opposition from her brother and parents.

The case drew national attention and sparked lengthy legal fights and debates in the Florida Legislature and Congress, with Gov. Jeb Bush helping lead efforts to prevent the removal of the feeding tube. Courts allowed the removal, ultimately resulting in Terri Schiavo’s death.

Wednesday’s opinion rejected an attempt by the Schindlers and the advocacy group to open records in a guardianship case. Michael Schiavo was his wife’s guardian after her incapacitation.

The opinion said Bobby Schindler and the group sought to intervene in the long-closed case as a step toward opening the records. It said Mary Schindler did not need to intervene because she had been a party to the case. But it upheld a circuit judge’s decision denying their requests.

In part, the opinion cited a state law aimed at keeping guardianship records confidential. Chief Judge Matthew Lucas wrote that the “fact that Ms. Schiavo passed away many years ago” did not “diminish the importance of the confidentiality the legislature afforded her guardianship records.”

“Finally, and perhaps most glaringly, none of the appellants [the Schindlers and the group] have ever explained why they waited nearly two decades after Ms. Schiavo’s death before filing a motion to unseal her guardianship records,” the opinion, joined by Judges Stevan Northcutt and Craig Villanti, said. “Their failure to address that pertinent question would seem fatal to their argument that good cause justified unsealing these confidential documents.”

Similarly, the opinion said Bobby Schindler and the group did not provide adequate reasons for intervening, saying their only justification “is that they wish to see what is in the sealed guardianship records so that they can, perhaps, use whatever they might find in their public advocacy. We agree with the circuit court that that is an insufficient basis to permit intervention in a case that ended more than twenty years ago.”

In a January news release on the group’s website, Bobby Schindler said the appeal was “about transparency, constitutional rights, and the pursuit of truth.”

“These documents may contain information that could alter the historical understanding of Terri’s case,” he said in a prepared statement. “There is no valid justification for continued secrecy after two decades.”

Bobby Schindler is president of the group, which says on its website that it has “advocated for and assisted thousands of medically vulnerable patients and families” since its founding in 2005.

Full Article & Source:
Terri Schiavo Guardianship Records to Remain Confidential, Court Rules - State Affairs

See Also:
Terri Schiavo 

Former Flagler County home health aide gets 3 years’ probation after no contest plea in senior fraud case

Katie Swain, 32, arrested in late December

Katie Swain (Flagler County Sheriff's Office)

BUNNELL, Fla. – A former home health aid will spend the next three years on probation after pleading no contest to theft and fraud, according to a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Investigators say 32-year-old Katie Swain targeted elderly people. She was originally arrested in late December after a month-long investigation found she had stolen cash and used a senior’s debit card for unauthorized purchases totaling more than $660.

Then, management at HarborChase Assisted Living, the same home as the original victim, said a second person had also experienced fraud while Swain worked there.

“Swain abused her position of trust and authority and rightfully cannot be placed in that position for several years,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. “We hope she uses this time to reflect on her life choices and avoids returning to the Green Roof Inn in the future.”

Swain is barred from working unsupervised with the elderly and must pay $236 in restitution as part of her probation. 

Full Article & Source:
Former Flagler County home health aide gets 3 years’ probation after no contest plea in senior fraud case 

Seniors remain stranded at Pinellas Park apartment building after elevator breaks down again

By Blake DeVine

Elevator repairs underway at senior apartments

FOX 13's Blake DeVine reports. 

The Brief

• • An elevator at the St. Giles Manor II in Pinellas Park has been out of service for nearly three weeks, leaving some seniors unable to leave the six-story building.
  • Maintenance crews briefly restored service to the elevator on Wednesday night, before it broke down within hours.
  • Many residents say this ongoing outage is disrupting their medical care and ability to get groceries.

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - Seniors living at an apartment complex in Pinellas Park have been without a working elevator for 19 days. This breakdown has left some residents at St. Giles Manor II unable to leave the six-story building.

What we know:

The elevator briefly resumed service on Wednesday night after repairs by maintenance crews. Only a few hours later, the elevator broke down once again.

Several seniors say this is more than an inconvenience as many depend on the elevator for medical appointments, groceries and daily activities.

What they're saying:

Sharon Dugger lives on the building’s fourth floor and relies on a portable oxygen tank. The 67-year-old said the outage has made routine tasks difficult.

"It’s really rough, because I have this oxygen machine," she said. "I get short on breath, plus I have to carry the portable."

To make her doctor’s appointments, Dugger has been forced to navigate the stairs while carrying her oxygen equipment.

"I feel stuck here," she said. "I would like to go downstairs when I want to get fresh air."

Two mechanics worked throughout Wednesday to repair the elevator.

"They say they’ll bring different parts," Dugger said. "Nothing is working, and it’s just ridiculous."

Sheryn Chambers, who lives in the building, hasn’t seen some of her neighbors on upper floors since late January.

"They’re not even compensated," she said. "No one’s going to offer on their payroll to bring up their groceries."

The other side:

For the second straight day, the front office at St. Giles Manor II was empty. Signs on the elevator remained posted, promising a repair by Tuesday, Feb. 17.

FOX 13 made several calls and left voicemails for SPM Property Management, which still have not been returned.

Carlos Reyes said the silence adds to his frustration.

"Toss the keys and close the building or something," he said. "We need elevators to go and give services to people that really need it."

The Source: Information for this story came from signs from SPM Property Management, interviews with residents at St. Giles Manor II and reporting from previous coverage on FOX 13 News.

Full Article & Source:
Seniors remain stranded at Pinellas Park apartment building after elevator breaks down again 

Lake Worth Beach caretaker pleads guilty to exploiting elderly client

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —  A Lake Worth Beach woman accused of taking advantage of a declining elderly woman financially entered a plea in court.

According to court documents in Palm Beach County, Nerlande Charles, 42, pled guilty Tuesday to exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult, fraudulent use of personal identification information of a dead victim and money laundering.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

Nerlande Charles

Charles was sentenced to five years in state prison, credited with 295 days of time served in county jail and must pay court costs. After her prison sentence is completed, Charles will serve four years of probation.

The court ordered Charles not to have contact with the niece of the dead victim and no contact with the property or the family of the dead victim.

Charles was banned by the court from working as a home health aide, working inside another home, working to care for a disabled adult or elderly person, and she must obtain a job after her prison time is served.

Charles was working for the elderly victim in 2022 as a caretaker when she wrote checks and had the client, who was in mental decline, sign the checks.

Charles took a car from the victim and claimed the victim gave it to her as a “gift.” It was also discovered that Charles made unauthorized transactions on the victim’s account for over $300,000.

Charles also made transactions on the victim’s account before the victim died at age 81. The niece of the victim discovered the unauthorized transactions and informed the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. 

Full Article & Source:
Lake Worth Beach caretaker pleads guilty to exploiting elderly client 

Elderly exploitation suspect transferred to Miami-Dade jail after being arrested in Broward

by Amanda Batchelor

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. — A man accused of exploiting an elderly woman has been transferred to Miami-Dade County’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center after being arrested in Broward County.

Online jail records show Lyne Bien-Aime, 55, was booked into TGK just before 1 p.m. Tuesday.

According to a press release from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Bien-Aime looted finances from a 71-year-old retired nurse who lived in Miami Shores with her disabled adult daughter.

Prosecutors said prior to her death in 2022, the nurse, Marie Bertrand, suffered a major health episode that left her with a cognitive impairment and need for around-the-clock care.

Prosecutors said the victim met Bien-Aime “through associations with the victim’s church” and he later “misrepresented himself as the victim’s nephew when dealing with local medical authorities.”

“Bien-Aime contacted the victim’s sister and family, residing in New York, falsely claiming to be a medical doctor and promising to oversee her care,“ the press release stated.

Authorities said Bien-Aime then isolated Bertrand and manipulated her for his own gain, including by having her sign a number of legal documents, giving him power of attorney over her, leading to him emptying various bank accounts containing her life savings and also fraudulently transferring her Miami Shores home into his name.

Prosecutors said Bien-Aime also secretly held the victim at his own home instead of allowing her to live out her final days at her residence.

According to prosecutors, Bertrand’s savings were meant to safeguard her daughter’s future after her own death.

Bertrand died on Dec. 16, 2022.

“I believe he killed my sister,” Bertrand’s brother, Vagner Valbrun, said of Bien-Aime. “He (has) to pay for what he did because my sister died.”

Prosecutors said the victim’s daughter, fortunately, was taken to New York by relatives during her mother’s health crisis and she has remained there with relatives after Bertrand’s death.

Bien-Aime has been charged with the following first-degree felonies:

• Exploitation of an elderly/disabled person in an amount over $50,000
• Grand theft from a person over 65 in an amount over $50,000
• Scheme to defraud in an amount over $50,000

He also faces one count of unlawful filing of false documents or records against real or personal property -- a third-degree felony.

As of Wednesday morning, Bien-Aime was being held at TGK on an $85,000 bond.  

Full Article & Source:
Elderly exploitation suspect transferred to Miami-Dade jail after being arrested in Broward