An 81-year-old East Tennessee veteran lost $100,000 after an unsolicited text claimed that he had won $1 million, a new car and several years of free gasoline.
The promised prize never arrived. Instead, the people behind the message persuaded the retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer to make repeated payments as the supposed winnings remained out of reach.
WATE identified the victim only as Riley. His daughter said he had recently been diagnosed with dementia.
No suspect, recovered money or arrest had been announced.
The Reported Payments Reached $100,000
The operation began earlier in 2026 when Riley received an unexpected text announcing that he had won a sweepstakes prize. The offer included $1 million, a new vehicle and free gasoline for several years.
The message nevertheless led to continued communication with the person or people claiming responsibility for delivering the prize. At some point, receiving the winnings became dependent on Riley sending money. By the time Riley’s family understood the extent of the operation, his reported loss had reached $100,000.
His Daughter Said He Had Recently Been Diagnosed With Dementia
Riley’s daughter told WATE that her father had recently received a dementia diagnosis. The family connected his changing cognitive condition with the vulnerability that allowed the communications and payments to continue.
Riley had served in the Navy and retired at the rank of chief petty officer. He told the station that he previously believed he was too smart to become the victim of a successful scam.
No Arrest or Recovery Has Been Announced
No person or organization had been publicly identified as responsible for taking Riley’s money. WATE also did not report that any portion of the $100,000 had been recovered.
People age 60 or older who experience financial fraud can contact the Justice Department’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311. Tennessee Adult Protective Services accepts reports of suspected financial exploitation through its 24-hour hotline at 1-888-277-8366.
Families Can Ask Banks About Alerts and Trusted Contacts
When an older adult is experiencing memory or judgment changes, family members can ask whether the person wants to establish transaction alerts or designate a trusted contact with the bank or credit union. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says trusted-contact programs can allow a financial institution to alert someone selected by the account holder when suspected exploitation occurs.
A trusted contact does not automatically receive authority to withdraw money, control the account or make financial decisions. Families needing broader authority should obtain appropriate legal and financial advice rather than sharing online banking passwords.
Other protections can include alerts for large withdrawals, new wire recipients, unusual card purchases and changes to contact information. The account holder can also ask the institution how it handles suspected elder financial exploitation.
A Real Prize Does Not Require Repeated Payments
The Federal Trade Commission says legitimate prizes are free. A winner does not have to pay taxes, processing charges, shipping costs or another fee before receiving the promised money or vehicle.
An unexpected message claiming that someone won a contest they do not remember entering is an immediate reason to stop and verify the offer independently. The recipient should not use telephone numbers, websites or contact details contained in the announcement.
The victim or family should ask whether any pending transfer can be stopped, a wire recalled, a check canceled or a recipient account flagged. Recovery is not guaranteed, but delays give the recipients more time to move the money.
Victims should also expect possible follow-up calls from people claiming they can recover the loss. The FTC warns that recovery scammers target previous fraud victims and demand another upfront payment.