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

Heartbreaking: Elderly Woman Scammed $150,000 - Urgent Digital Vigilance Needed

In Greene County, Ohio, a 78-year-old woman lost $150,000 in a suspected romance scam, emphasizing the importance of digital vigilance. After meeting individuals through social media and word games, she was manipulated into sending money, despite her daughter's efforts to protect her. This case highlights the increasing prevalence and sophistication of online scams targeting the elderly.

by María Alejandra Trujillo 

Heartbreaking: Elderly Woman Scammed $150,000 - Urgent Digital Vigilance Needed

In an era where digital connections blur the lines between reality and illusion, a heartrending tale unfolds in Greene County, Ohio. A 78-year-old woman, ensnared in the intricate web of a suspected romance scam, has lost a staggering $150,000 to individuals she met through social media and word games.

The Unraveling of Trust

The woman's daughter, Gravenstine, found herself in the midst of this nightmare when her bank flagged suspicious check activity. Despite her efforts to prevent further financial loss, including canceling a $5,000 check and obtaining guardianship, her mother continued her covert mission to send money.

The octogenarian, exploited by the trust she placed in these online relationships, resorted to cashing checks clandestinely and purchasing gift cards. The individuals involved in this scam are believed to be posing as figures such as retired four-star Army Gen. Austin Scott Miller, preying on her vulnerability.

A Battle on Multiple Fronts

"It's like you're fighting a war on multiple fronts," Gravenstine said, echoing the sentiments of many families grappling with such scams. Despite contacting local police, Greene County Adult Protective Services, and the Ohio Attorney General's Office, prosecuting these cyber-based romance scams remains a daunting challenge.

The situation escalated to the point where the mother's home had to be sold to avoid foreclosure. Gravenstine now has guardianship over her mother, who is living in her own apartment, emphasizing the importance of monitoring loved ones' online activities to prevent such scams.

A Silent Epidemic

This case is not an isolated incident. More than 30 area residents, including elderly women, have fallen victim to similar cyber romance scams. Nationwide, these scams resulted in financial losses totaling $1.3 billion in 2022 alone.

Fraudsters employ sophisticated tactics to manipulate and deceive their victims, often gaining their trust over extended periods. They then exploit this trust, persuading victims to send money under various guises.

As technology continues to evolve, so too do the methods used by scammers. The human cost of these scams is immeasurable, leaving behind shattered trust and financial ruin.

Gravenstine's story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in the digital age. As she navigates the aftermath of her mother's ordeal, she hopes that sharing their experience will help protect others from falling prey to such scams.

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Heartbreaking: Elderly Woman Scammed $150,000 - Urgent Digital Vigilance Needed

Woman Who Fell for Romance Scam Loses Home, Taken Captive, Dies—Family

By Giulia Carbonaro

A 70-year-old woman from Coeur d'Alene in Idaho who had fallen for a romance scam was kidnapped by the men who had "catfished" her and has now died shortly after being able to return home, according to her family.

Diane Webb had been introduced to dating apps three years ago by her granddaughter, the family told Spokane, Washington, TV station KHQ-TV, thinking the woman might find a spouse after being single for 40 years.

Diane Webb, 70, turned away from her family and sold her home for a man who didn't exist after falling for a romance scam three years ago. Getty Images

The idea initially seemed to prove successful, as Webb fell in love with a man named Michael, whom she met on an unidentified dating app.

Michael—who the family now knows wasn't a real person, but a fake profile created to trick women looking for love and companionship—was said to be based in Nigeria, so for three years the two did not meet in person.

But in three years of talking, Webb's family told KHQ-TV that the man would often ask the woman for money, for a variety of reasons that are often brought up by romance scammers —which usually range from paying for health fees resulting from a sudden incident to asking for support to afford a plane ticket.

According to Webb's daughter Monica Grimm, Michael had often told Webb he would come visit in Idaho, but "on the day he was supposed to show up he would tell her 'I'm at the airport, but I don't have money to get to you. Could you just give me a little?' He was in Africa the whole time," the woman told KHQ-TV.

Eventually, Michael convinced Webb to distance herself from her family, telling her they didn't value her as much as he did. According to the woman's family, Webb turned her back on her relatives and even sold her home under the pressing requests of Michael.

Then in March this year, according to the family, Webb traveled to Nigeria to meet Michael, aiming to stay for three months. But instead, the woman was held captive by the same men who had catfished her, was physically and mentally abused and fed only potatoes and beer, until July.

Catfishing is when a fraudster creates a false personal profile online to trick someone.

On July 9, Spokane Airport security called Webb's family and told them that the woman was back home after one of her captors, whom she had befriended, bought her a ticket back to the U.S.

"He felt bad for my mom being 70 and as sick [as] she was. He told her I'm getting you a ticket and sending you back home," Webb's daughter Melinda Thomas told KHQ-TV.

But Webb's return home was no happy ending to a frightful story, as the woman has recently passed away due to malnutrition.

Newsweek has tried to contact the FBI for comment.

Though Webb's story is an extreme example of the consequences of romance scams on the lives of those who fall prey to them, thousands of people report cases of catfishing and dating scams every year.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, reports of romance fraud hit record highs in 2021, with median individual losses at $2,400.

Between 2017 and 2021, people have reported losing $1.3 billion in total to dating scams.

The FBI recommends the following tips to avoid being scammed while dating online:

- Research the person's photo and profile online to see if their details match elsewhere;

- Go slowly and ask lots of questions;

- Watch out for people asking immediately to take it off the dating app and use other means of communication;

- Beware of any attempt by the person to isolate you from friends and family, request inappropriate photos or your financial information;

- If the person always promises to meet in person but then never does, coming up with some excuse why they can't, that's a red flag you should take note of;

- Never send money to anyone you have not met in real life.

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Woman Who Fell for Romance Scam Loses Home, Taken Captive, Dies—Family

Florissant man linked to romance scam that bilked elderly men, women of nearly $1 million, feds say

The former south St. Louis County home of Hammed Akande, accused by prosecutors of a role in a romance scam that cost at least 12 elderly men and women almost $1 million. Investigators say victims mailed cash in packages to the home.

FLORISSANT — A man from Florissant is linked to a romance scam to defraud a dozen elderly men and women around the country of nearly $1 million, federal prosecutors said Monday.

One 82-year-old Wisconsin veteran spent decades living frugally, his relatives told federal agents, then sent his entire retirement savings of about $140,000 in just 16 months to a woman he’d met online. The woman claimed to be working overseas, and said she needed money for passport costs, plane tickets and other travel costs so she could come back to the U.S., charging documents say.

The veteran used FedEx and regular mail, but also sent $12,500 in three Priority Mail packages this spring to an address in unincorporated St. Louis County where Hammed Akande, 39, once lived with his wife, charges say. There were at least 55 other Priority Mail packages sent to that address from around the country from January to Oct. 10, according to an affidavit by Matt Villicana, a supervisory inspector with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Many were addressed to a series of names that do not match Akande or his wife, including Wale Akinmerin, Akinyemi Jonson, Wale Martins and Dele Akinfeso, court records show.

The affidavit mentions but doesn’t name a 77-year-old woman from Maine, a person from Pennsylvania in his or her 60s, a 63-year-old Arkansas woman, someone from New Jersey, someone from Kentucky, men from Colorado and South Carolina, and a St. Louis woman who lost more than $30,000.

Akande, referred to as a predator by one prosecutor, was indicted Nov. 20 on a single charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry told U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Cohen on Monday that the investigation was ongoing and she expected to add charges.

Berry declined to comment on details of the case Monday, but warned people involved in online dating to be “very vigilant.”

Romance scammers use fake names, stolen photos and false stories on online dating sites and social media accounts to lure their victims, Villicana wrote in the affidavit, often claiming to be in the military or working overseas so they have a reason they can’t meet in person. To avoid law enforcement, scammers sometimes use “mules” to receive and then forward cash and valuables. The mules can be co-conspirators or victims, Villicana wrote, and use anonymous prepaid debit cards, virtual currency transactions and peer-to-peer financial apps to move money.

Akande’s lawyer, Steven Sokolik, pointed out last week that the charges were “merely an accusation,” and that Akande is presumed innocent. In court Monday, he sought Akande’s release from jail pending trial, saying Akande had no criminal record, had been working for the last four years and recently had a child with his girlfriend.

A neighbor of Akande’s wife said that the almost daily delivery of packages to their address has dwindled. Federal agents arrived around 5 a.m. Nov. 1 to search the house and search through the wife’s trash, she said.

A note posted on the mailbox now says that mail should be left only for Akande, his wife and her daughter.

Villicana wrote that Akande’s wife was home, and told investigators she met Akande through a Facebook instant message. She went to Nigeria and married him in 2013. Both moved to the U.S. in 2015, although she said Akande had not lived with her for several years. She told Villicana that Akande still received packages there, including cellphones that he shipped on to Nigeria, the affidavit says.

One woman named “Mary” came to the home last month to ask for the return of cellphones and cash worth a total of $3,000, Akande’s wife told Villicana.

Villicana also found envelopes and packages in the trash that had been mailed or shipped by the Maine woman and the men from South Carolina and Colorado, the affidavit said.

The St. Louis woman listed in Akande’s indictment, who is in her 60s, began an online romance with someone in August who told her he was from Colorado and had a business in Ukraine. She sent him cash to help his business, only to discover that he was using the name of someone who had been victimized in a romance scam. He convinced her to keep sending money, claiming that everything was true but his name, charging documents say.

The investigation began when the Wisconsin man’s family contacted the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The Wisconsin man emailed, texted or used Google Hangouts to communicate with the scammer. They never met in person or communicated via FaceTime or Skype. He sent cash to Florissant, wired money to a Hong Kong account or deposited money other ways, Villicana wrote.

The penalties for running a romance scam can be severe, if the fraud is widespread.

In 2017, one person was sentenced to 27 years in prison in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis for scamming hundreds of women online.

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Florissant man linked to romance scam that bilked elderly men, women of nearly $1 million, feds say