Author: Christy Bieber

An Atlanta property owner says he found part of his home demolished and alleges city workers were responsible, causing extensive damage just as he was planning additional work before he put the property on the market.

WSB-TV 2 Atlanta reported that Ronaldo Norman and his brother, who co-own a real estate investment company, had spent about $200,000 building a home in Southwest Atlanta. But when Norman arrived at the site in May, he says he found a large hole in the side of the house and bulldozers on the property.

"I saw demo bulldozers and a big hole in the side of the property," Norman said to Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln. According to Norman, the damage was caused by city workers — but so far, Atlanta officials haven’t publicly commented on the incident.

Here’s what Norman says happened, and what legal options property owners may have in similar situations.

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Property owner searches for answers on destruction

Norman says he arrived at the site to find demolition equipment and a gaping hole in one of the walls.

"Just think about it, come pulling up to your property, and you see a big hole in the wall, and no one can give me an explanation as to why," Norman complained. Norman alleges city workers took action because they thought his permit had expired.

"May 22, the day after they expired, they came out here and put a hole in my property," Norman told reporters. He maintains the property was still in compliance, claiming he had filed for and received a six-month permit extension before the incident.

Whether a home is under renovation or fully built, city governments must follow a legal process before demolishing a structure. Generally, a property owner would receive notice along with time to rectify any issues.

Norman says he never received any such notice. City official’s only response, he claims, has been to advise him to seek legal counsel.

"This right here is a major setback because now we may have foundation issues," Norman said.

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What protections do homeowners have — and what can you do if this happens to you?

While rare, incidents like this show how important it is for property owners to protect their investments and to act quickly if something goes wrong.

With no answers from Atlanta officials, the Normans may have to pursue legal action to recoup their losses. Here’s what that process could look like — and what other homeowners should know if they ever find themselves in a similar situation.

Consult a lawyer Because of a legal concept called sovereign immunity, suing a city can be complicated, but Georgia law does allow homeowners to file claims for damages, as long as they follow the right process.

File a notice of claim This is a formal document notifying the city that you intend to pursue compensation. The time for doing so varies by State and Municipality and can be relatively short; your local lawyer should know this. Missing this deadline could prevent your case from moving forward.

Collect all documentation This includes:

• Building permits and extension filings
• Photos or videos showing the damage
• Invoices and receipts for materials and labor
• Emails or letters from city agencies
• Any inspection reports or code violation notices (or proof that none were issued)

Request records from the city Filing an Open Records Request may reveal internal miscommunications or mistaken permit data that triggered the demolition.

Get a damage assessment A structural engineer or contractor can help assess whether foundational damage occurred and provide estimates to use in a claim.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

St. Louis’ Blake and Sarah Anyan’s story begins as a fairy tale. The high-school sweethearts were expecting their first baby.

The couple chose Mercy Hospital — dubbed ‘The Baby Palace on Ballas’ — for prenatal care, labor and delivery. They chose the hospital not only because it is known for its obstetrics care, but because Sarah was employed there as a cardiac nurse and Blake worked there as a respiratory therapist.

Sarah’s pregnancy was a typical one, with her active baby kicking her often on her nursing shifts. When she went into labor, she headed to the hospital to welcome her baby boy Remi. That’s where everything went wrong.

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What happened next would change the couple’s lives forever and lead to a record-setting $48.1 million verdict against the hospital for its failures.

Baby suffered severe harm in labor, delivery

Sarah was given an epidural at 10:42 p.m. At 3:50 a.m., she began pushing. Pushing for more than three hours is dangerous. She pushed for 12 hours.

The couple, who trusted their health team, weren’t offered a C-section or told of the risks of prolonged pushing.

“Speaking as a nurse, I was really, really disappointed that they didn’t share that with me," Sarah told News Alert 4 in St. Louis.

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Another thing the health team didn’t reveal? That their baby boy Remi was in distress during the prolonged labor.

To their shock, when Remi was delivered, he was floppy, didn’t cry, had poor tone and began having seizures.

“We were pretty much blindsided,” Sarah said.

Sadly, their son suffered severe and permanent harm. Now 5 years old, Remi has full cognition but can’t walk or communicate. He has cerebral palsy.

“It’s just a major travesty,” Blake said. “It hurts us as parents, but it also hurts us as care providers. That’s so far away from what we’ve been taught to do, and what I teach my students to do. It’s just heartbreaking.”

The Anyans filed a malpractice lawsuit against Mercy Hospital, its nurses and their obstetrician Dr. Daniel McNeive for medical negligence.

Medical malpractice laws hold providers accountable if the care they provide falls below a professional standard. Birth injuries are a top reason for malpractice claims.

Expert witnesses said expecting a mother in labor to push for 12 hours was inexcusable, adding that the hospital failed to respond properly after Remi was born. One possible intervention — therapeutic hypothermia — could have reduced his injuries by up to 30%.

The couple won their malpractice suit. The jury awarded them $48.1 million in the verdict, of which $20 million was for punitive damages.

"So grateful that they took what happened seriously and didn’t give up faith in Remi, and that they would try and help him move forward," Blake said.

Mercy is appealing the ruling. In a statement, they wrote:

"We stand by the care provided by our team … No evidence was ever introduced suggesting dangerous patterns or practices of behavior by Mercy or Dr. McNeive, nor did the jury make this finding. The case remains pending with the court, and Mercy will continue to seek appropriate resolution for the benefit of the Anyan family.”

What can malpractice victims do?

The Anyans aren’t the only ones harmed by a medical error. A Johns Hopkins study found that medical errors are the third-leading cause of death in the U.S.

Top reasons for malpractice suits include:

• failure to diagnose/delayed diagnosis
• radiology errors, such as misreading X-rays
• failure to obtain informed consent
• surgical errors, such as operating on the wrong body part or leaving instruments inside patients
• anesthesia errors
• medication errors

Victims of malpractice must demonstrate they were damaged by medical negligence and deserve compensation for losses. If successful, they are owed payment for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and emotional distress.

However, many states cap non-economic damages (for pain and distress) at $500,000 or less.

If you or someone you love has experienced medical negligence, it’s important to take legal action quickly. There are time limits for pursuing a claim — usually within one to four years of discovering your injuries — so don’t wait.

If legal costs concern you, you can work with a personal injury lawyer on a contingency-fee basis. Such lawyers offer free case evaluations and don’t charge legal fees upfront. They subtract legal fees from any compensation they recover on your behalf.

To support your case, gather and maintain all the documentation you can — medical records, names of your care team, and records of any followup care you have received as a result of your injuries.

The Anyans took action not only to advocate for themselves, but to inspire others — as Sarah tells her son Remi.

“You’ve got two choices in life. You can be angry and bitter and hang on to that anger your whole life. Or you can choose to inspire people," Sarah said. "And I tell him that all the time — he’s going to inspire people."

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Money doesn’t have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Making the decision to retire is a big deal, and signifies a major lifestyle change is coming. Let’s say you’re just four months away from your planned retirement, odds are you’ve been gearing up for this next stage and getting everything in order to enjoy your life of leisure for a while now.

You’ve got a decent nest egg and you’re ready to really hone your golf game. What happens, though, if a perfect job comes along in this situation?

Let’s say you’re offered a position that’s five minutes from your house, with good benefits, no workplace drama or stress and a good friend who works at the same company and says it’s great.

Oh, and let’s say that the job provides just half of your current pay — but the pay is pretty close to what your retirement income would be.

Should you stick with your plan for retiring in this situation or should you take the lower-paying job that allows you to get out of your current work environment sooner, keep insurance coverage for you and your spouse and delay collecting your retirement benefits to make your money last longer?

Here’s what you should consider as you make this decision.

How will taking the new job impact your retirement savings?

When you take a big pay cut, obviously you’re not going to be able to save as much for retirement as you would at your current job. However, with only four months left to go until you stop working, chances are good that you weren’t going to be adding much to your nest egg anyway.

In fact, by delaying when you start drawing from your retirement accounts, you can end up in a much better place financially.

Your money can stay invested and keep benefitting from compound growth instead of you beginning to make costly withdrawals. You can also delay claiming CPP and keep increasing your monthly benefit until as late as 70 years old, which could more than double. Instead of receiving $800 per month at 60, you will receive $1,775 at 70. That’s a big increase, on top of the fact you’ll also be growing your invested funds.

How much income do you need to live on?

You’ll also need to consider how much income you need to live the lifestyle you’d like to live in retirement. While your new job may provide an income similar to what you’ll earn in retirement, continuing to work rather than being at home can come with added costs.

You may have more commuting expenses, for example, although that should be negligible with the office just five minutes from your house. However, you may also be more likely to buy lunch at work or need costlier work clothing, which can mean you need a little more money.

At the same time, keep in mind that working longer will likely increase the income you eventually have as a retiree. If you have more of a cushion to live on in your later years because you take this new job, you may be better off — especially given uncertainty around the nation’s economic prospects in the near future.

Would retirement make you happier than working?

Your happiness matters when it comes to retirement decisions. If you have been looking forward to retirement and don’t want to spend more years working, then you should likely not put off quitting even if the perfect job comes along. Especially if you already have enough money to retire.

And with 30% of retirees being at risk of becoming socially isolated, it may be prudent to take a new job if it will help you maintain social connections. You can always work on your golf game on the weekends.

You should carefully consider all of these issues as you decide what’s right for you. An unexpected change in circumstances can be shocking when you had plans in place, but it may just end up being a blessing that makes your future retirement a much more enjoyable one.

Sources

1. Government of Canada: Deciding when to start your public pensions

This article I’m 63 years old, have $800K in savings and I was all set to retire in four months — but now I’ve just got a fantastic new job offer. Should I take it or stick to my plan? originally appeared on Money.ca

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Clotilde "Wendy" Sawadogo and her husband Patrice once owned a pair of buildings in Brooklyn, but the New York City couple says they were deceived 13 years ago after seeking the help of an expert to sell the properties.

"It was a trick," Sawadogo told News 12 Brooklyn in a story published June 6. "Tricking him (her husband) to sign over the deed."

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On June 5, Sanford Solny, a disbarred attorney, was convicted of stealing the deeds of 11 properties from 15 victims over a 10-year period. According to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, the victims were primarily minority homeowners in financial distress.

"He stole our lives," Sawadogo said.

Solny now faces up to seven years in prison. Here’s how the scheme worked, and how homeowners can protect themselves.

Disbarred lawyer’s fraud scheme

The DA’s office says Solny targeted homeowners in foreclosure and presented himself as a financial expert. He told victims he could negotiate with lenders to sell their homes for less than what was owed on the mortgage. Making false statements, he tricked them into signing over their deeds to companies he owned.

Sawadogo says she and her husband were rushed through the paperwork before the eviction process suddenly started, per News 12.

The DA says the fraud took place between 2012 and 2022. Solny’s law licence was suspended in 2012 and he was disbarred in 2023. He’s scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 17.

News 12 reports the DA’s office confirmed a judge would be signing an order to nullify the fraudulent deeds. Sawadogo is hopeful she and her husband will get their properties back.

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The local broadcaster reached out to Solny’s attorney, who replied with a statement:

"While we believe that the evidence supported an acquittal on all charges, we were grateful for the acquittals on the majority of the charges," his lawyer said. "There are myriad appellate issues which will be vigorously pursued in future proceedings."

How you can avoid deed theft

Solny’s crime was a type of deed theft or home title fraud. This occurs when someone takes title to a home by arranging for the deed to be transferred to them — typically without the actual property owner knowing or understanding what’s happening.

Deed theft or title fraud can occur the way it did with the Sawadogos, where the couple is tricked into signing over the deed. It can also occur when a criminal pretends to be the owner of a vacant property and signs the deed over to themselves. From there, the deed holder can sell the home or get a mortgage or HELOC on it that’s never paid back.

Homeowners need to protect themselves from this type of fraud and can do so by:

• Checking regularly on the title with the state’s land records office and, where available, signing up for alerts when a legal change to the title of a property occurs
• Checking credit reports regularly to watch for new, unexpected mortgages or home equity loans
• Making sure bills come regularly and investigating if they’re missing

Homeowners also need to be careful who they trust for help, which means only working with a licensed real estate agent or licensed attorney when they need assistance, and checking with their state’s disciplinary board to ensure that the professional they hire is in good standing.

For the Sawadogos, it’s already too late to undo what happened and get back the lost years in their home — but other property owners should be vigilant and make sure they, too, don’t get tricked by a bad actor who pretends to want to help.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Retirement is supposed to be a happy time. We speak of the "golden years" for a reason.

For many, however, the last phase of life can be the most painful and unhappy.

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Almost a third of retirees suffer from depression. That number is too high.

The good news is, though, you don’t have to be broke and miserable in your later years. If you simply stop doing five common things after age 55, you can increase the chances that you have a happier, richer retirement that you actually enjoy.

1. Neglecting Your Health

Giving up unhealthy habits can make all the difference in your longevity and continued ability to do the things you enjoy. That’s why it’s crucial to stop compromising your health as you age.

Exercising reduces your risk of all sorts of diseases and increases the chance of a long, healthy life. In fact, older adults who did any weight lifting, but no moderate to vigorous aerobic activity, were 9% to 22% less likely to die over a decade, according to a 2022 study cited in an AARP article. "Those who met aerobic guidelines and lifted weights once or twice a week had a 41 percent to 47 percent lower risk," it added.

It’s also worth giving up other unhealthy habits, from smoking to eating poorly to getting too little sleep. Changing these behaviors can not only enable you to enjoy retirement for longer but it also makes it more likely you’ll be healthy enough to do the things you love once you leave work.

2. Supporting Adult Children

Adult children can be a huge source of joy for retirees, but they can also be a major financial drain. As many as 47% of parents with grown, non-disabled children provide their kids with some kind of financial support, with parents providing an average of $1,384 monthly, according to research from Savings.com.

These contributions to kids are more than double what the average working parent contributes to their own retirement savings monthly, which is why it’s not surprising that 58% of parents said they’ve sacrificed their own financial security for the sake of their adult kids.

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While it’s understandable to want to help your kids, it’s also important to remember that they have time to build their financial futures but you don’t. Set a limit on how much you help based on what you can truly afford and look for ways to offer non-financial assistance.

Doing so is the only smart choice for both you and your kids because if you end up broke, it won’t be good for them either when you show up to live in their guest room.

3. Taking Time for Granted

It’s an inevitable fact that the older you get, the less time you have left. That’s why it’s so essential to stop wasting time in your later years.

Once you reach your mid-50s, you don’t have endless years left to save. Get serious, making the sacrifices needed to build a big nest egg. Whether that means putting in extra hours, asking for a salary bump, or making budget cuts, step up your savings efforts now more than ever.

Devoting your efforts to bulking up your savings in your 50s will hopefully pay off and, as you move into your 60s, you’ll get to a point where trading time for more money no longer makes sense. At this point, if you have enough to live comfortably, staying on the job longer to earn more often stops being worth it if you give up some of what may be your last healthy years.

The early use of your time saving should allow you to put your time to good use enjoying life later — so make the most of each of these different life phases.

4. Not Spending in Line With Your Values and Goals

For seniors living on a fixed income, wisely spending money is more important than ever. Unfortunately, if you don’t have a plan for what to do with your dollars, you could end up spending on the wrong stuff.

If your dream is traveling, for example, but you’re staying in your costly family home and spending your travel money on property taxes and home maintenance, you’d likely be far better off downsizing and freeing up cash to take your dream trips.

Take the time to look at exactly where your money is going, and make sure that you’re using it the way you’d prefer. Cut the things you don’t care about and allocate as much of your money as possible to making your retirement dreams a reality.

5. Worrying Too Much

Finally, far too many seniors end up wasting their retirement worrying about the things they can’t change. From bad news on TV to a potential future market crash to undesirable political outcomes, there’s a lot that seniors spend their days fretting about — very little of which is in their control.

Rather than wasting time stressing, seniors should take the steps they need to set themselves up for success, like choosing the right asset allocation for their investments and making sure they have a life where they live below their means at a safe withdrawal rate.

Seniors who are smart about their finances and who maintain an objective distance between themselves and upsetting issues are likely to be a whole lot happier — which is what they deserve in retirement after a lifetime of working to get there.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Dominique Ward’s squeals of delight are relatable as she shares the thrill of seeing her first home — a pre-fab — literally fall into place.

The Chicago resident sounds like a lottery winner, and in some ways she is. The single mother of two is one of a number of first-time buyers in the city who have been able to purchase new homes for under $300,000 in areas where they would normally cost over $500,000.

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Ward paid just $275,000, including the price of the ringside seats from the sidewalk as her new modular home was lowered onto its foundation.

"For people like myself — single parents just trying to raise your kid and survive the world — it’s a great opportunity,” she told CBS News Chicago.

She purchased it from Chicago-based Inherent Homes, an innovative company that aims to make homes more affordable for everyday people.

"Finding ways to keep our costs down can meet more families where they’re at," founder Tim Swanson said.

Here’s how it works.

Cheap lots and factory-built homes

To keep land costs down, Swanson buys vacant city lots for as little as $1. The city offers financial incentives to help homeowners transform these abandoned lots.

For example, Chicago’s Building Neighborhoods and Affordable Homes Program provides forgivable loans to homeowners who can transform these vacant lots into tax-paying properties.

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Inherent Homes intentionally chooses sites that qualify for these incentives, which brings down the cost for property owners.

For example, although Swanson sells the homes for $395,000, the city subsidies can bring the price down significantly ($100,000 or more) closer to the $275,000 that Ward paid.

"Once I found out about these types of programs is when I went ahead and pulled the trigger," Ward told CBS. "I was able to show my girls that anything is possible. It’s an amazing feeling."

Swanson keeps the cost of the manufactured homes low by constructing them indoors. That removes weather and construction delays from the equation.

"We have six homes here that are not getting wet, which means they’re not drying, which means we’re not wasting a week to get back into the home," Swanson told CBS.

He added that it takes three weeks to frame out each home and another eight weeks to add the tiling, paint, and finishes. This speedy process keeps labor costs affordable, as does buying in bulk.

The company even buys appliances so all its homes are turn-key properties ready for families to move right in.

Could modular homes solve the affordability crisis?

As the debate over housing affordability rages, modular homes are gaining attention as one solution.

Shelftrend predicts that demand for prefab homes will continue to grow, noting that the U.S. modular home was worth more than $36 million in 2024 and is expected to reach $60 million by 2033. The popularity of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in people’s backyards is driving part of this trend, along with affordability challenges.

Modular homes are definitely cheaper to build — $270,000 on average compared to $317,786 for a traditionally built home, according to Detroit-based Rocket Mortgage.

Pre-fabricated homes have other advantages. Better Homes & Gardens notes they’re more energy efficient than traditional homes because the seams are tighter.

But there are some downsides. Manufactured homes are less customizable. Zoning rules may limit where they can be built. And they might not withstand serious weather events, such as hurricanes, so they may not be a good option for places like Florida.

Prospective homeowners may wish to talk with a real estate agent about how well modular homes hold their value in the local market.

Of course, the resale value may not matter much for those looking for a place to call home for the long term, especially if a modular home makes the property affordable when otherwise homeownership would be out of reach.

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Money doesn’t have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

San Diego’s new “daylighting law,” AB-413, draws a new line in the sand when it comes to parking near intersections and crosswalks.

But drivers are frustrated that the new line isn’t marked on the city’s curbs, where no-parking zones have traditionally been painted red.

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Now anyone who parks within 20 feet of crosswalks can be fined $117 — even if the curb is not painted red, and even if there are no signs explaining the rules.

“If there’s no sign and no red curb, how am I supposed to know not to park there?” Luke Glass, a North Park resident, complained to CBS News 8 San Diego.

New parking law is profitable for city

While the new law was touted as a measure to improve pedestrian safety, some drivers wonder if it’s a cash grab to address San Diego’s budgetary shortfall.

"I do see it’s a law that’s supposed to have good intentions,” Vincent Thai said. “But yeah, I could really see it as some kind of cash cow.”

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Tickets issued between March 1 and May 1 this year have already generated $660,000 for San Diego, which anticipates $1.2 million in revenue by year-end as a result of the new law.

City officials insist safety is their motivation and that the changes will make the area more walkable. Some residents, like North Park local Eric Hansen, support the “daylighting law.”

"Now I think you should be able to see pedestrians a lot easier,” he said. “It’s going to make it harder to park, but I’d rather be able to walk more safely.”

But Omar Flores, who has been ticketed multiple times under the new law would prefer being able to see the no-parking zones along with the pedestrians.

To date, only around 400 of the 16,000 intersections in the city have been painted red, so there’s no way for drivers to tell where the 20-foot no-parking zone is at most intersections.

"I mean, people don’t carry tape measures around,” Flores added.

How to avoid a ticket under the new parking law

Residents of San Diego who want to avoid being ticketed under AB 413 need to make sure they avoid parking near crosswalks so they don’t run afoul of the rules.

No matter where you live, if you want to avoid parking tickets, pay attention to any changes to local parking infractions.

Local media can be a good source of information about new parking restrictions.

You can also check the website of your city council and of local representatives to get regular updates.

If you do believe you were ticketed unfairly, you can challenge it.

You might consider reaching out to an attorney who can help you avoid a fine you don’t deserve.

What to read next

• Financial aid only funds about 27% of US college expenses — but savvy parents are using this 3-minute move to cover 100% of those costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs

Money doesn’t have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

San Diego residents in their golden years should be enjoying the balmy weather and beaches, but instead, many are worrying about how to recover lost funds or survive financially after being scammed.

Victims include retired professionals, says Michael Rod, an FBI supervisory agent in San Diego Count. Two such victims whom reported over $2 million stolen in the past two weeks.

“Doctors, lawyers, judges, pilots, engineers, all have fallen victim to this stuff, like very smart, intelligent people,” Rod told ABC 10 News San Diego.

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That’s why scams are often underreported.

The FBI reports that last year, at least 1,300 San Diego residents aged 60 and older lost an average $80,000 each to fraudsters — a total $108 million, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Many victims are embarrassed and don’t report when they’ve been targeted.

Rod now leads a new initiative dedicated to helping protect older residents in San Diego County from such scams: the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force. The task force is made up of local law enforcement agencies, the FBI, the District Attorney’s Office and Adult Protective Services.

"It’s a first-of-the-kind model,” explained Rod, who is currently serving as task force commander.

It’s urgent work as elder fraud is on the rise nationwide — $4.8 billion in losses last year, according to the FBI. Residents of California, Florida, and Texas lost the most money, according to the FBI.

Not only is more money being stolen, but criminals are getting more brazen.

Scammers get bold, as criminals send couriers to pick up money

As ABC 10 News reports, one audacious scam is occurring almost daily in San Diego, as overseas criminals ensnare innocent victims in a tech support or overpayment scam, and then send a courier to their house to pick up cash.

Dale Marsh, a Carlsbad resident, was nearly a victim of this very crime after receiving a text from a phone number thanking him for purchasing Norton antivirus products.

He called the number to explain he hadn’t made the purchase, and spoke to a “very polished, very professional, very non-threatening, very corporate, business-like” rep named Roger who told Marsh he’d have to enter $500 into an online form to have funds sent back to his bank account.

Read more: You don’t have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund. In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here’s how

Marsh followed the instructions but then “Roger” claimed he had "accidentally" transferred $50,000 to Marsh’s account and that he would lose his job unless he sent a courier to Marsh to collect the $50,000 back immediately.

Fortunately, Marsh’s wife heard this all from another room and called the police, so when the courier showed up in a Dodgers hat, he was greeted with a fake $50,000 as well as an arrest.

Ultimately, four people ended up arrested out of that sting operation, and the FBI is investigating a border transnational crime ring involved with orchestrating the scam.

“Oftentimes we see that these couriers are coming from the greater L.A. area,” Nicole Mondello, an FBI official, said.

While criminals who work overseas generally initiate the scams, the couriers are paid a small fee of around $1,000 to go to seniors’ homes and collect the funds.

How seniors can avoid falling victim to a scam

Rod’s task force has already been a great success, with agents recovering $7.5 million to return to victims. And he thinks it could be a model for other areas as well.

"Once we had centralized reporting by all of our local law enforcement agencies, we realized the extent of the problem," he said.

But while new initiatives like the task force help address the larger issue of elder fraud, it’s important for individuals to protect themselves as well. Here are some tips from the FBI:

• Never answer calls or texts from unfamiliar numbers.
• Look up telephone numbers independently to call back a "business" or "government agency" that contacts them without solicitation
• Never hand over cash, wiring money, or sending cryptocurrency to someone you do not know
• Talk to a friend, family member, or other trusted person before giving any stranger money or personal information.

It’s also important to remember that scammers use fear and time pressure to get people to act quickly. “I was a little scared, a little fearful, thinking, here’s a $50,000.00 wire transfer," Marsh said.

Rod warned, "they’re going to put a timeline on something and say you have to act by this time and generally, it’s not enough time to think something through."

If you’re being pressured to provide money, just say no so you can avoid becoming one of the thousands who loses billions due to brazen scammers who breach your trust.

What to read next

• Financial aid only funds about 27% of US college expenses — but savvy parents are using this 3-minute move to cover 100% of those costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs

Money doesn’t have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.