LADY LAKE, Fla. – An 80-year-old Lady Lake woman, Patricia Toder, lost nearly $150,000 after crooks posing as government employees tricked her out of money she received from a life insurance policy following her husband’s passing.
News 6 has learned the scam is becoming increasingly popular.
“It was, like, I couldn’t believe it happened,” Toder said.
The scheme unfolded over several weeks, beginning with a phone call.
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The caller sent Toder a government ID and claimed to be Investigator Jaime Morris with the Office of Inspector General.
At first, the caller told Toder she was under investigation.
“She scared the devil out of me. She said that I was going to be arrested,” Toder recalled.
Later, the caller said Toder was a fraud victim and that an employee at her bank was the suspect.
“She had me go to Wells Fargo and take $20,000 out cash because they said they had to take it and put it in the government to save my money,” Toder told News 6.
Because the bank questioned the large transaction, the scammers convinced Toder to buy gold bars - lots of them.
In cash and gold bars, Toder handed over nearly $150,000 to the crooks.
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Detective Brian Campbell with the Lady Lake Police Department said internet telephone scams like this are difficult to prosecute.
“That’s how they can get away with it because when it’s coming over that VoIP system, it’s tough to trace. Therein lies the problem,” he said.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, government impersonation scams have skyrocketed in recent years.
In 2020, adults aged 60 and over who lost more than $100,000 had combined losses of $55 million. By 2024, that number jumped to $445 million.
The FTC produced a public service announcement to warn consumers.
“What these scammers are doing is they’re trying to induce fear,” Monica Vaca of the FTC said. “Hang up the phone. Go talk with someone you trust. Do a search on the internet.”
The FTC recommends never moving money to protect it, hanging up and verifying by calling the agency directly, and blocking unwanted calls.
Toder advises, “Hang up. Don’t pick up a call you don’t know.”
Remember, don’t fall for the scheme, don’t get ripped off, but if you do, email me at LBolden@wkmg.com.