Latest news with #ConsumerProtectionUnit
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Oklahoma woman — posing as a man — scammed 4 seniors out of a stunning $1,500,000, officials say
In December 2024, a man named Jason Morris persuaded his online girlfriend — a senior woman living in Oklahoma — to send him $120,000 to bring an oil vessel he supposedly owned back to shore. Once the tanker returned, Morris promised, the couple would move in together. When the woman's bank held the funds, likely over fraud concerns, Morris allegedly instructed her to lie — to tell the bank she was buying property, not funding a massive maritime rescue. But Oklahoma officials say there was no oil rig, and there was no Jason Morris. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how According to authorities, the man behind the screen was actually 53-year-old Christine Joan Echohawk. The fake romance was part of a months-long scam that dispossessed four women between the ages of 64 and 79 of $1.5 million. According to a news release from Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Echohawk created multiple online personas — Jason Morris, Edward Lotts and Glenn Goadard among them — to manipulate her victims into believing they were in committed relationships. Each alias came with an elaborate backstory and an urgent financial need. One woman sold her paid-off home to send more than $600,000 to 'Edward Lotts,' who promised to unlock a $2 million payout and move in with her once the funds were released. Another woman sent $250,000 to 'Glenn Goadard,' who claimed he needed help managing a financial portfolio from Syria. All of the money, officials say, ended up in bank accounts controlled by Echohawk. Authorities allege she laundered the funds through multiple accounts, converting some into cryptocurrency and sending it to unidentified recipients. She also received checks, wire transfers and tens of thousands of dollars in Apple gift cards. The scam fell apart in January 2025 when MidFirst Bank flagged a suspicious $120,000 transaction. The Consumer Protection Unit within Drummond's office launched an investigation and linked the payment — and several others — to Echohawk. Echohawk first claimed she was also a victim, reports NBC News. However, when investigators searched her purse, they found multiple bank cards tied to accounts related to the scams, gift cards, and deposit slips for $110,000. Echohawk now faces four counts of unlawful use of criminal proceeds and one count of violating the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act. If convicted, she could spend up to 62 years in prison and face $260,000 in fines. 'I applaud the work of my Consumer Protection Unit to fight for these victims and to hold accountable their alleged perpetrator," Drummond said in the press release. Read more: The US stock market's 'fear gauge' has exploded — but this 1 'shockproof' asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Here's how to own it ASAP According to the FBI, romance scams — also called confidence scams — often target individuals who believe they're in a relationship with someone they've met online. Scammers use emotion, trust and manipulation to convince their victims to send money, gift cards or personal information. Here are a few ways to protect yourself or loved ones from romance scams: Never send money to someone you haven't met in person. No matter how close the relationship feels, treat financial requests from online-only connections with extreme skepticism. Research online friends or partners. Use online searches to verify their image, name or other details, and see if they've been used in other scams Be wary of dramatic backstories. Stories involving oil rigs, military deployments or large inheritances are common red flags that you're being scammed. Don't share personal financial information. Scammers may ask for bank details or offer to send you money — don't fall for it. Watch for inconsistencies. Romance scammers often use stolen photos and recycled scripts. If their story seems too good to be true, it probably is. Listen to warnings. If your bank or another trusted financial advisor warns you of a scam, take a step back. These scams are often very elaborate — designed to trick you. Talk to someone you trust if you're suspicious. If you're unsure about a relationship, confide in a trusted friend or family member. Outside perspectives can help spot red flags you might miss. With awareness and the right amount of skepticism, you can help ensure you and your loved ones don't fall victim to a romance scam. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
NBC News
10-04-2025
- NBC News
Oklahoma woman scammed $1.5 million out of elderly women posing as men in fake romances, officials say
In December 2024, Oklahoma officials say Jason Morris convinced his online, elderly girlfriend to send him $120,000 to pay for an oil vessel carrying 700,000 barrels in Alaska he allegedly owned to return to shore. Once the rig returned, she and Morris would move in together. The bank held the funds, according to court documents. Morris instructed the woman to contact her bank and lie to them, saying the funds were for purchasing property and not for the alleged oil tanker. But the bank was right to raise suspicion — officials say there was never an Alaskan oil rig. In fact, they say there was never a Jason Morris. 'Scams that target seniors' Christine Joan Echohawk, a 53-year-old woman from Oklahoma, was allegedly the face behind the screen, scamming the older woman out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and laundering the money. Four different women were scammed out of $1.5 million through Echohawk's online romance scams between Sept. 30 and Dec. 26, 2024, according to a release from the office of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. The women were between the ages of 64 and 79 and all lived outside of Oklahoma. 'These types of scams that target seniors are especially egregious,' Drummond said in the release. The attorney general filed charges against Echohawk on Monday for 'unlawful use of criminal proceeds and using a computer to violate state statutes,' the release said. Echohawk was sent cash, checks, wired funds and even tens of thousands in Apple gift cards. Authorities say Echohawk laundered the funds through various accounts, converting the money into cryptocurrency and sending those crypto payments to an unidentified suspect. Jason Morris, Edward Lotts and Glenn Goadard The alleged scams included fake names — such as Edward Lotts and Glenn Goadard — and elaborate backstories explaining the need for loads of cash, according to a probable cause affidavit. Lotts convinced one woman to send more than $600,000 to pay off a debt that would allow $2 million to be released to "him." When the debt was paid off, Lotts would move in with her, the affidavit stated. The victim sold her paid-off home to send all the money. Goadard contacted another woman claiming to know her since college. The woman was persuaded into paying $250,000 for expenses on a financial portfolio Goadard would send her from Syria. But Echohawk allegedly received all the funds, depositing them into a MidFirst Bank account in which she was the sole signatory, according to the affidavit. The Stillwater MidFirst Bank branch tipped off Drummond's office in January, suspecting Echohawk of senior-fraud activity after a $120,000 payment from one of the victims was intercepted and held, according to the release. The Consumer Protection Unit subsequently investigated. Confidence/romance crimes and Maurice Deniro Defined as a confidence/romance scheme by the FBI, these crimes occur when an individual believes they are in a relationship — whether family, friend or romantic — and manipulated into sending money, financial or personal information, or items of value to a perpetrator. The FBI Internet Crime Report found more than $600 million was lost in 2023 to confidence/romance crimes alone. Local law enforcement confronted Echohawk about the suspected criminal activity in January, but after a short hiatus she allegedly continued to launder the money. Echohawk was voluntarily interviewed at the Pawnee police department on March 26, an interview she opened with asking if it would "all go away" if she paid back the individuals who sent her money, according to the affidavit. But she then claimed it was her who was in an online relationship, that she was receiving cash, checks, wire transfers and other items since 2023 for an individual under the alias of Maurice Dinero, the affidavit said. Echohawk claimed there were "red flags" about her situation and had concerns she would be arrested. When Echohawk consented to having her purse searched, the affidavit said, there were multiple bank cards associated with accounts she allegedly laundered money through, a MidFirst Bank deposit slip for $110,000 and several Apple gift cards found with the barcodes revealed. There was also $500 in cash, which Echohawk said was from individuals sending money to the alias, but she had not yet deposited. Echohawk faces four counts of unlawful use of criminal proceeds and one count of violating the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act, which could carry up to 62 years in prison and $260,000 in fines, the release said. She has been held in Pawnee County Jail since Monday, according to Pawnee County Sheriff's Office records. An attorney was not listed and it's unclear if she has legal representation.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Pawnee woman accused of laundering of $1.5M from elderly women in online romance scam
The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office filed charges Monday against a Pawnee woman for allegedly laundering an estimated $1.5 million in funds through online romance scams. Christine Joan Echohawk, 54, was arrested and booked into the Pawnee County jail Monday on complaints of unlawful use of criminal proceeds and violations of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act. Online court records did not list an attorney for her. Echohawk is accused of laundering money from multiple victims living in Florida, Texas, and Utah between Sept. 30 and Dec. 26, as detailed in a probable cause affidavit. According to agents with the Oklahoma Attorney General's office, the victims were elderly women ranging in age from 64 to 79. They thought they were sending money to a man with whom they believed they were dating online, according to the affidavit. "These types of scams that target seniors are especially egregious," Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond said in a news release Tuesday. "I applaud the work of my Consumer Protection Unit to fight for these victims and to hold accountable their alleged perpetrator." More: Nigerian man in OKC sentenced in romance scam involving Alabama woman According to the affidavit, Drummond's office received a referral from MidFirst Bank in January of suspected senior-fraud activity after the bank intercepted a $120,000 transfer from one of the alleged victims. That woman sent $120,000 to Echohawk after allegedly being told the money would pay for fuel to help the male subject's Alaskan tanker, supposedly carrying 700,000 oil barrels, return to shore, according to the affidavit. Another woman was persuaded to pay $250,000 to Echohawk to allegedly help a male subject pay off expenses for a financial portfolio in Syria, also detailed in the affidavit. And another woman sold her paid-off home so that she could send $600,000 to Echohawk, according to the affidavit. The victims sent Apple gift cards, cash and cashiers' checks, and wired money to accounts owned by Echohawk at MidFirst Bank, investigators said. More: Jail trust contracts juvenile housing with Pawnee County Sheriff's Office In January 2024, Pawnee police interviewed Echohawk about suspected criminal activity. After being told she was laundering funds, Echohawk allegedly stopped depositing and moving the funds for a short time, before deciding to start back up again, according to the affidavit. Echohawk told police that she was receiving and transferring the funds on behalf of the male subject, with whom she also believed herself to be in a relationship romantically, according to the affidavit. Echohawk told investigators she would deposit and transfer the funds through various accounts, converting most of the funds to cryptocurrency, and then send the crypto payments to an account under the male subject's name, as detailed in the affidavit. In a news release Tuesday, the AG's office said that suspect has not been identified. Investigators also wrote that Echohawk said she used some of the funds that had not been converted to cryptocurrency for personal gain. They also said she admitted to lying to various banks about the source of the money she'd received, saying that they were from people who'd owed money to her late husband, according to the affidavit. During an interview with investigators last month cited in the affidavit, Echohawk said she has an associate's degree in business and various nursing certifications. She also asked investigators if the issue would "all go away" if she were to pay back the people who'd sent her money, according to the affidavit. She now faces five felony counts that could carry a combined 24 to 62 years in prison and fines of up to $260,000, according to the AG's office. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Pawnee woman charged in alleged $1.5 million laundering scam
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Oklahoma woman charged with laundering $1.5M from elderly women in online romance scam
Charges have been filed against an Oklahoma woman who is being accused of laundering nearly $1.5 million in funds obtained through online romance scams, targeting elderly women. Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced that Christine Joan Echohawk, 53, was arrested Monday, and is accused of laundering money from out-of-state victims between Sept. 30, 2024, and Dec. 26, 2024. Officials said that all the victims were women between the ages of 64 and 79. The victims believed they were sending money to a male subject whom they thought they were in an online relationship with, according to a news release from Drummond's office. Fleetwood Mac Backup Singer Lost More Than $1 Million In Romance Scam Drummond noted that one woman even sold her house so that she could send $600,000 to the scammer. Read On The Fox News App "These types of scams that target seniors are especially egregious," Drummond said. "I applaud the work of my Consumer Protection Unit to fight for these victims and to hold accountable their alleged perpetrator." Alarming Number Of Americans Scammed Out Of Life Savings Have One Thing In Common, Prompting Lawmaker Response The victims also sent Apple gift cards, cash and cashiers' checks as well as wired money to accounts owned by Echohawk at MidFirst Bank, according to the news release. Drummond's office was also alerted by the bank in January after it held a $120,000 transfer from one of the victims, suspecting senior fraud activity. Romance Scams On The Rise As Americans Look To Dating Apps For Love: 5 Tips To Protect Yourself Echohawk was confronted in January 2024 by law enforcement about suspected criminal activity, Drummond's office said, but allegedly continued to launder funds after a short hiatus. Officials said Echohawk is believed to have been converting the funds into cryptocurrency and sending those payments to an unidentified suspect. Echohawk was charged with unlawful use of criminal proceeds and using a computer to violate state statutes. She faces five counts that, together, carry 24 to 62 years in prison and up to $260,000 in fines. Anyone is encouraged to report suspected fraud to Attorney General Gentner Drummond's Consumer Protection Unit at 833-681-1895 or consumerprotection@ article source: Oklahoma woman charged with laundering $1.5M from elderly women in online romance scam
