My 72-year-old grandfather Tom Hoye, a retired senior living in West Jefferson, Ohio, was recently the victim of a sophisticated fraud impersonating the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Within weeks of learning how to use Facebook and email so he could stay connected with family, he was contacted by someone claiming to be a federal agent. He was told that multiple bank accounts had been opened in his name across several states and that he was allegedly facing serious criminal charges he knew nothing about. Terrified and confused, he was told that if he did not cooperate immediately, he could be arrested. The scammers instructed him to withdraw the money from his checking and savings accounts and purchase gift cards as part of a so-called “verification process.” Believing he was protecting himself and doing the right thing, he followed their instructions. By the time he realized something was wrong, his entire checking and savings accounts were gone — the full financial safety net he depended on alongside Social Security. Because the withdrawals were made in person and the gift cards were purchased under coercion, the banks have been unable to recover the funds. My grandfather is retired and lives on Social Security alone. Without his savings, he has no buffer for emergencies — no margin for a car repair, a medical expense, or even a short disruption in basic necessities. He is currently having car issues, and with winter weather in Ohio, reliable transportation and safety are especially critical. This GoFundMe was created to help him rebuild a basic emergency safety net, cover rent, utilities, and phone service, afford groceries and transportation, manage medical and prescription costs, and maintain stability while recovery and assistance options are pursued. He has given permission for his story to be shared in hopes that it raises awareness about elder fraud and helps prevent others from becoming victims of similar scams. Any support — whether through a donation or sharing this page — helps restore stability and dignity to a senior who is doing his best to live simply and independently. Thank you for reading and for any support you can offer.

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