Criminals are increasingly posing as banks, courts, and law enforcement, tricking people into giving up money or account access. One Texas couple lost $70,000 in hours. Here’s how to recognize fake texts and calls before it’s too late.
After a major gift card fraud bust tied to nearly $14 million in losses, investigators say the scam has now made its way into the Houston area.
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office recovered $125 million and made 123 arrests in 2025 cracking down on healthcare fraud.
During the event, Abbott spoke with 2 Investigates about an investigation he publicly launched Monday into potential fraud among childcare providers in Texas.
A well-known Houston food blogger says what started as a close friendship ended with tens of thousands of dollars in financial loss — and a civil court judgment he has yet to collect.
A Houston City Councilman, pictured on social media with a nonprofit CEO now accused of fraud, tells KPRC 2 News his office is suspending engagement with the organization that feeds the homeless in downtown Houston.
Houston police have revealed new details in the ongoing investigation into Unique Green, the owner of a funeral home that was raided during an active funeral service last month.
Rosemary Tucker, who operates the nonprofit “Hoodies 4 Healing” and has nearly 100,000 Facebook followers, was arrested last week after a months-long investigation by the Houston Police Department’s Major Offenders Division.
Estate sales are more than transactions — they’re an exchange of trust. Families hand over antique furniture, rare china, glassware and other cherished possessions that hold decades of fond memories.
Three Houston residents have been found guilty of participating in a scheme to fraudulently secure the release of Harris County inmates using falsified bail bond documents.
A man from Los Angeles has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a $12.5 million scam that victimized investors in the Southern District of Texas.
Hervey entrusted an estate sale company to sell her family’s precious belongings - sterling silver, antique glassware, and cherished furniture from her childhood. Two years later, she’s still waiting for payment of more than $2,000, but the greater loss is the irreplaceable memories these items held.
Search warrants obtained by KPRC 2 are revealing new details on what investigators found in the home of a Montgomery County woman accused of shooting her four kids, killing two of them while she was in Brazoria County.
A Rosharon woman pleaded guilty Monday to fraudulently obtaining more than $28,000 in federal disaster relief funds by falsely claiming she lived in a property damaged by a wildfire in California.
After losing her husband Giancarlo, Joel Locandro’s world shattered even further when sophisticated scammers stripped her of her entire life savings—$500,000—through an elaborate work-from-home scheme.
Court records show Mosley’s bond has been set at $10,000. Her co-defendant, 24-year-old Andrea Johnson, is still wanted.
Carl John Butcho II was taken into custody in Travis County on a charge of theft of property valued between $150,000 and $300,000. He also faces two other charges in Travis County.
Court records said Samuel Ayala-Ibarra, 45, set up fake documents to show growth and returns, but the money his clients invested was actually used for personal gain and to repay earlier investors.
The owner of Texas Rural Hospitals LLC, the hospital system for which a hospital which abruptly closed in Cleveland was affiliated with, has been arrested following a federal indictment in Washington State.
Joel Pizano and Maria Delgado are charged with supplemental nutrition assistance program electronic violation. The two were charged following an investigation by the Texas Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Multiple victims have reported being approached by a woman traveling in a vehicle filled with children, and sometimes a dog, claiming to need emergency assistance to access domestic violence shelter services.
Martinez and her husband, Jarin, are accused of filing numerous fake documents and falsely claiming ownership of properties, which they then sold without the knowledge of the actual owners, according to a lawsuit filed by the Harris County Attorney’s Office in April.
A Houston man says he’s out nearly $10,000 after wiring money to a company that, he later learned, doesn’t actually exist.
U.S. officials have seized millions of dollars’ worth of counterfeit Apple cell phone chargers in the Houston area.
Former West University Place home developer Brett Detamore, who pleaded guilty to federal charges of wire fraud after faking his disappearance nearly two years ago, has been sentenced for his crimes.
Three politicians from the northeast United States have introduced an act to protect families relying on SNAP benefits if their funds are stolen.
An attempt to transport a shipment of counterfeit cigarettes valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars was smoked out in Texas over the weekend.
Fraud and theft targeting seniors is a growing concern, and many people reach out to “2 Helps You” for guidance. It can be challenging to discuss financial safety with family members, but there are steps that can be taken to help protect them.
Finding a trustworthy business isn’t always simple. Just ask the more than 100 Harris County residents who say they paid thousands of dollars to A&L Sheds for storage buildings or tiny homes—only to r
Edgar Peralta, a former insurance broker has been put behind bars for selling policies to customers despite having his license revoked.
A man from Los Angeles has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a $12.5 million scam that victimized investors in the Southern District of Texas.
A single mother in Houston now has to find another way to feed her three children after someone stole her SNAP benefits on Monday.
Multiple agencies worked together to arrest five people in connection to a sophisticated fraud scheme tied to a Romanian organized crime network operating in the United States.
Amanda Sparks, the owner of A&L Sheds, was arrested earlier this week on theft charges totaling up to $300,000, though many victims claim the amount is far greater.
The Harris County Attorney’s Office has filed a lawsuit against a home renovation company in northwest Harris County, near Rice Military, accusing it of fraudulent practices. This legal action comes after several residents reported losing significant amounts of money to the company named in the lawsuit.
Prosecutors said Leidy Lopez, 44, pleaded guilty to her role in selling thousands of fake temporary Texas license plates and was to report for her prison sentence, but failed to do so.
The Harris County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office is sharing photos of two suspects in a fraud case in hopes someone knows who they are and can help law enforcement apprehend them.
Bun Khath, a 43-year-old Houston resident, has pleaded guilty to laundering funds from a $40 million bank fraud scheme, admitting to falsifying loan documents and managing shell companies to facilitate money transfers from 2016 to 2021.
Anyone who has been a victim of identity theft knows it can easily happen, and a recent study found if you're living in Texas the chances of getting exposed are higher.
A new Houston doggy daycare business that hasn’t even opened its doors has already lost more than $250,000 in a scam that involves wire fraud and appears to be part of a growing email scheme that has resulted in billions lost.
KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun visited Phillips to get answers to Click2Houston Help Desk question regarding deed transfers and allegations of fraud.
An alleged conman responsible for defrauding women out of millions of dollars in romance scams has been arrested at a Houston airport.
Robert Amboree, a Houston property owner, recently made aware of an apparent property fraud that left him feeling violated.
Four people are accused of an elaborate rental fraud scheme targeting more than a dozen Harris County properties involving a stolen identity.
A former Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo vice-president has been convicted on wire fraud charges, according to FBI Houston.
After a realtor called KPRC 2 in April when he realized his client’s home had been rented using a stolen identity, the tenant has been charged and is wanted on three felony charges.
The 39-year-old admitted to obtaining at least $1.5 million for personal use by misusing the funds intended initially for constructing private residences.
Imagine this, you have owned your home for over a decade, and you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. You make enough to pay your monthly bills, help your kids with paying for college, and even take the occasional vacation. Then, in an instant, your financial life is crushed!
Brett Detamore, the former West University home developer who allegedly faked his disappearance in June 2023, appeared in federal court Monday afternoon.
Multiple arrests have been made in connection to a bank fraud investigation led by the Mont Belvieu Police Department.
The alleged scheme involved AABLE Bonds where the FBI executed a search warrant in June 2022.
Prosecutors say Khalia Douglas posted stories on her Instagram with captions flat out incriminating her saying: “SBA is back open. $350 for method. Yes, I’m doing applications $100 upfront & $2k when your money hits. You’ll need a real bank account.”
Prosecutors say Christopher Montealegre, 45, pleaded guilty to applying for and receiving a newly built home worth $314,000 with federally approved funds meant to assist Hurricane Harvey victims.
The thief is going into waiting rooms, lounges and other public areas to steal people’s wallets, credit cards, money and personal belongings.
Here are some ways you can stay informed, protect your personal information, and be proactive in monitoring your financial accounts to safeguard against identity theft:
A home rented by a suspected identity thief in Northwest Harris County has led to a law enforcement investigation and the recovery of many items possibly connected to other identity theft cases.
💰 Zelle Scandal Unveiled: Houston Women Lose Thousands 💸In a shocking turn of events, two Houston women fell victim to a massive Zelle scam that drained their bank accounts. 😱 Despite reporting the fraud immediately, Chase Bank denied any wrongdoing and refused to reimburse their loss. Join KPRC 2 Investigator Bill Spencer at 6 PM tonight as he dives deep into this alarming issue.
Amy Sharp and Jason Leopard are in the middle of a battle they never dreamed they would be in. They were ripped off by an estate sale company. Bill Spencer looks into what you should do if you have a similar problem.
A woman who went viral on social media after making claims a man assaulted her with a brick outside a Houston club and then used the story to fraudulently raise over $40,000 on GoFundMe was expected to turn herself in to police, but didn’t show up Thursday.
A Missouri City couple has been indicted for orchestrating a fraudulent financing and refinancing mortgage loan scheme, the United States Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
United Memorial Medical Center has agreed to pay $2 million and to make additional contingent payments to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations, the United States Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Five Houston men have been taken into federal custody after they were charged in a large-scale mail theft and credit card fraud scheme resulting in more than $1.2 million in losses, the United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
A Sugar Land business owner has been ordered to serve two years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiring to commit mail fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
Texas residents lost more than $763 million to fraudsters in 2022, including nearly $20 million in phishing and non-delivery scams, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
A 48-year-old Katy woman has been sentenced to prison for defrauding Medicaid of more than $600,000, the United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
A Sugar Land man has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain and launder more than $500,000, the United States Department of Justice said.
A Houston businessman was arrested for wire fraud in relation to a fraudulent loan scheme, according to the United States Department of Justice.
A Missouri City couple and owners of a home health agency have received prison time for defrauding Medicare out of over $8 million.
A Houston man who was the head of a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud ring and six of his co-conspirators were sentenced for fraudulently obtaining more than $20 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans that the Small Business Administration guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
Five Houston men have pleaded guilty to their participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain and launder millions of dollars in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the United States Department of Justice announced Monday.
A group of people living in Houston have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a nationwide fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims, the United States Department of Justice said.
A 38-year-old Mont Belvieu man has been taken into federal custody for diverting victims’ money for his personal use, the United States Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
A 13-count indictment was unsealed Tuesday charging two Houston pharmacists and a physician for their roles in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud, kickback, and money laundering scheme.
The leader in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud has been ordered to federal prison, the United States Department of Justice said.
Houston attorney Amber Morrison was first tipped off back in 2017. Someone reached out via Facebook and said a woman was pretending to be her, practicing family law under her name.
Charges have been filed against an operator and two managers at a local dental clinic for their roles in a $6 million Medicaid fraud and kickback scheme, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced.
A 47-year-old home health company owner has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for a $1.4 million Medicare home health fraud scheme, the United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
A North Texas firefighter is battling a different kind of flame after someone stole his identity and then used it to buy several cars in the Houston area.
Frustration continues to grow for many victims who are fighting for answers and trying to get their money back after their SNAP benefits were stolen.
The United States government agreed on Wednesday to dismiss all fraud charges against former Blue Bell CEO Paul Kruse, with parties agreeing to a misdemeanor fine instead.
According to officials, from March of 2020 until December of that year, Desiree Coleman conspired with others to commit wire fraud by submitting false applications for government assistance.
Acres Homes property owner says family land was fraudulently listed for sale in real estate scam
Authorities said three people have been arrested after they allegedly used someone else’s identity to buy a vehicle.
Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo... no matter which bank you use, you probably trust your bank to protect your money. But consumer advocates are calling out the nation's largest banks for giving thieves easy access to your cash through an app and platform they created. They say new numbers from some of those banks show just how much criminals are making from Zelle.
Daniel McIver, 29, and 26-year-old Eric Berry were arrested at a north Houston hotel. Both are charged with felony identity theft and possession of a controlled substance. McIver also faces a charge of tampering with a government record, according to the Constable’s Office.
The Department of Justice has announced the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the DOJ and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors.
A Fort Bend County man is set to face a judge Monday after he was indicted for obtaining nearly $600,000 in financial aid funds at several Texas colleges, U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery said in a news release.
A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison after being convicted of wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
A 22-year-old Houston man arrested for being a “prolific” con artist has been sentenced to eight years in prison for fraud and forgery, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said Wednesday.
A 59-year-old Houston woman has been sent to federal prison following her conviction of committing and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
A Washington man who was targeting innocent, unsuspecting seniors across East Texas was sentenced Tuesday to serve time in federal prison for fraud violations, U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston announced.
Two Houston area men have been arrested after committing wire fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.