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Delaware woman's fraud victim urges others to be vigilant

tabnews August 19, 2024
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  • A Delaware woman who looted an elderly couple's bank account has been sentenced to three years probation.
  • The sentencing of 58-year-old Lori Fanning Hatton comes as a relief to Carol Hoffman, who, along with her late husband Norbert Hoffman, welcomed Hatton and her husband into their Elkton, Maryland-area home in late 2022.
  • The likelihood that fraud victims will ever see their money again is slim.

A Delaware woman who looted the bank account of an elderly couple who believed it would help her in her financial distress has been sentenced to three years probation.

The conviction of 58-year-old Lori Fanning Hatton is a relief for Carol Hoffman, who, along with her late husband Norbert Hoffman, took in Hatton and her husband at their home near Elkton, Maryland, in late 2022. According to court documents, Hatton stole nearly $29,000 from the couple and supplied them with alcohol to cloud their judgment and manipulate them.

“I don’t have to be afraid anymore,” Hoffman told Delaware Online/The News Journal.

Hoffman and her husband, who died in November, are not the only ones to fall victim to scams. The Federal Trade Commission reported earlier this year that consumers lost more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023, the first time fraud losses reached that high.

This also represents an increase of 14% over the losses reported in 2022.

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The likelihood that fraud victims will ever see their money again is slim.

Hoffman, 77, knows this, but says her biggest concern is that people will find out about Hatton so she doesn't do this to others.

“People need to be aware of her,” she said. “How mean she is. She should never, ever be in the home of the elderly or anyone who needs medical care.”

How a dream scenario became a nightmare

Hatton and her husband were unlucky when they were recommended a Hoffman family member who had health problems and limited mobility.

Hatton and her husband were expected to help the older couple with things like healthcare, home repairs, and yard maintenance. The younger couple could live in the Hoffmans' home for a small rent and pay their share of the utilities.

“We tried to be nice because they told us they were having problems,” Hoffman said.

Initial story: Delaware woman charged with plundering bank account of elderly couple she cared for

But after a few months, according to Hoffman, things started to go bad.

The family didn't realize how bad things had gotten until they checked the Hoffmans' bank account and found that nearly $29,000 had been spent on several Amazon purchases, a vacation to Wildwood, New Jersey, ATM withdrawals and $200 a week on alcohol, according to court documents signed by Detective William Muller of the Cecil County, Maryland, Sheriff's Office.

Hatton, who had moved out of the couple's home, was living in the Newark area when she was arrested in March and extradited to Maryland to face charges.

On August 12, she pleaded guilty to theft by fraud. In exchange for Hatton's guilty plea, three other charges against her were dropped: abuse of a vulnerable adult, second-degree assault and credit card fraud.

Do not expect full compensation

The Cecil County District Attorney's Office did not respond to a message with questions for this story, including whether the Hoffmans will see any of the nearly $29,000 stolen from them. According to documents filed in Cecil County District Court in Elkton, Maryland, Hatton must pay Hoffman $15,000 in restitution at a set rate determined by a probation officer.

While this order is in effect, experts say victims of scams typically do not receive compensation and are sometimes left to deal with other things while picking up the pieces.

“Many fraud victims never get their money back, even if the perpetrator is arrested and prosecuted. It's a devastating event for the victim,” said Amy Nofziger, AARP's director of victim services. “We've heard of fraud victims who have had to sell their homes to pay bills, move into friends' or family's homes, and never get to realize the retirement dream they worked so hard for.”

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Nofziger said our society tends to blame victims when it comes to fraud.

“We say things like, 'How could they not see the signs? Why didn't they just walk away or say no?' But in reality, these criminals are very good at what they do and are skilled manipulators who manage to scare the victim and force them to cooperate,” she said.

A victim of a financial crime is no different than any other victim of crime. Nofziger said friends and family need to encourage victims of financial crime to come forward and treat them with kindness and empathy, not shame or blame.

“We need to help them along the way and encourage them to report the case to the authorities,” she said, adding that society often focuses on the financial loss, although the loss these victims feel goes far beyond money. “They lose their trust in themselves, in society, in the person who took care of them and who they trusted.”

“Often victims want to isolate themselves and not say anything because they are so hurt and just want to hide.”

Nofziger and the AARP Fraud Watch Network, a free resource for everyone, offer advice on what to look for and what to expect if you become a victim of fraud.

Detecting a scam

Report the crime to law enforcement immediately and cut off all communication with the perpetrator.

“Criminals are masters of manipulation, and the longer victims stay in contact with them, the more the criminals will try to steal from their victims,” Nofziger said.

Write down any information or memories you have from the situation. Not only does this help recount the situation (dates, names, money transferred), but many victims say that writing down the situation helps them escape the emotional hijacking by the criminal and brings them to a more logical and cognitive thought process. Some victims have even said that writing down their experiences is healing for them.

Seek support from friends, family, and trusted community members. Victims need support while they recover from the experience. Victims should also contact their financial institutions and any locations the criminals have access to.

What happens after you get cheated?

Nofziger said it all depends on the situation and what happened. Often, victims need to put a fraud alert on their credit report and work with the credit bureaus to make sure there are no fraudulent accounts listed on their report.

They could even impose a credit freeze so that no one can take out new loans in their name.

And depending on the type of theft and where the money was stolen, some victims may have to pay taxes, Nofziger said.

Who to contact if you have been scammed

You can always contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline.

“We have trained fraud specialists who listen to each individual's story with kindness and empathy and help them figure out what to do next,” Nofziger said. “Often it's just a matter of having a listening ear and helping people understand that they are not alone.”

In addition, victims should seek support from trusted friends and family members and, if they need more emotional support, see a psychologist or join a support group. AARP has set up such a group for fraud victims.

Who to avoid if you have been cheated

Nofziger advises avoiding debt collection companies.

“We don't recommend companies, and while there are companies that say they can recover funds, we've also heard that many of them charge fees up front and many turn out to be scammers,” she said. “My first step would be to contact local law enforcement again as soon as you discover the theft and see if they are able to track down and trace the funds to recover them.”

If a victim is interested in working with a debt collection agency, Nofziger advises them to be well informed and not to make decisions involving money under emotional pressure.

Why we are all targets

Age, gender or education level do not matter to criminals looking for ways to steal people's money, Nofziger said, adding that people should not be afraid to talk to their loved ones and friends about fraud.

Nofziger suggested role-playing with the people they love:

  • “Hey grandpa, what would you do if someone called and said it was me and I needed money?”
  • “Auntie, if someone moved into your house and I was suspicious of them and thought they would hurt you, I would call the police. I'm only telling you this because you might be mad at me if they did, but I don't care. Your safety is what matters to me.”

“We all need to be aware that we are targets,” Nofziger said. “And no matter how much money you have, criminals will look for ways to steal it.”

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or [email protected].

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