The Bad Place4d ago

NBC News Top Stories | California woman dead in murder-suicide may have given thousands to a scammer claiming to be Tom Selleck by Minyvonne Burke

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Donald Whitaker, 80, and his wife Karen, 79, were found dead on May 15 in their Bermuda Dunes home in a suspected murder‑suicide, after a welfare check was requested. Investigators say the couple had been victims of a prolonged financial elder‑abuse scam in which a fraudster pretended to be actor Tom Selleck, gaining Karen’s trust through Facebook messages and repeatedly asking for money via gift cards and other bogus payments that totalled thousands of dollars. Despite warnings from friends, law enforcement, and adult‑protective services, Karen continued sending money, and the abuse was reported to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities found no evidence the scammer was involved in the deaths, and Tom Selleck has no connection to the case. The tragedy highlights the vulnerability of seniors to sophisticated online scams.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-woman-dead-murder-suicide-may-thousands-scammer-claiming-to-rcna346560

#TomSelleck #DonaldWhitaker #KarenWhitaker #RiversideCounty #SheriffsOffice #JoyMiedecke

California woman dead in murder-suicide may have given thousands to a scammer claiming to be Tom Selleck

An elderly California couple found dead in a suspected murder-suicide had recently been scammed by someone posing as actor Tom Selleck, a longtime friend said

NBC News
The Bad Place5d ago

ABC News: Top Stories | WATCH: California couple found dead after sending money to Tom Selleck impostor

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Donald and Karen Whitaker, a couple from Riverside County, California, were found inside their home on May 15 with severe, traumatic injuries, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Police say the pair had been scammed by an individual impersonating actor Tom Selleck, who convinced them to send money to the impostor. The deception culminated in the couple’s injuries and subsequent death, highlighting the dangers of online fraud and identity theft.

Read more: https://abcnews.com/video/133195737/

#TomSelleck #DonaldWhitaker #KarenWhitaker #RiversideCounty #onlinescam

Video California couple found dead after sending money to Tom Selleck impostor

Donald and Karen Whitaker were found with traumatic injuries inside their home on May 15, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

ABC News