As an investigative reporter, my focus is to dig deeper into a story. I alert the public about shady contractors, expose government waste and corruption, hold the powerful accountable and highlight scam artists who take advantage of our most vulnerable population.
Well, a few months ago, I was informed about a $3.6 million scam involving Larry Cook. A Virginia resident. A decorated Navy commander and submarine officer. He suffered a stroke and fell victim to a phishing scam in his diminished capacity.
Instead of reporting on Cook’s story, I found myself working on behalf of his niece, Janine Satterfield, and her siblings to get the word out about her late uncle’s case which is now at the center of a federal lawsuit in Virginia.
“Not one international wire transfer should’ve gone out. Not one.”
Janine Satterfield gives this response repeatedly when she speaks to reporters across the country.
The Washington state native is determined to draw attention to a growing problem – elder financial exploitation – that targeted her uncle and other vulnerable seniors.
Unfortunately, Cook got caught up in an international wire fraud scheme back in 2021. The 76-year-old received an unsolicited email disguised to be from Amazon. And he clicked on the link. Scammers tricked Cook into thinking he had ordered an iPad and a PlayStation.
The bad actors later convinced Cook that he had a loan repayment.
He then sent a total of 75 international wire transfers to someone in Bangkok, Thailand, in the amount of $49,500 each through Navy Federal Credit Union and one through Wells Fargo.
Cook ended up sending out millions of dollars.
“Where did that money go?” Janine asked.
No one really knows. But law enforcement overseas has contacted Janine and the family’s attorney, Kimberley Murphy.
“In our view, they need to pay them back. Pay back the money that should not have gone out,” said Kimberley Ann Murphy, Satterfield’s attorney and partner at Hale Ball Murphy, PLC.
They are suing Wells Fargo and Navy Federal Credit Union. According to the lawsuit, Navy Federal Credit Union did alert Adult Protective Services after more than 30 wire transfers went out. They monitored his account, but more than 40 additional wire transfers were authorized.
Despite attempts by authorities to offer Cook help during this situation, he refused.
“We as a community need to do more to protect the elderly and especially those who are incapacitated,” Murphy said.
In Virginia, financial intuitions are not required to report on financial exploitation of the elderly.
The family’s lawsuit was dismissed in federal court in May, although they plan to appeal.
Meanwhile, Janine wants justice for her uncle.
“We want the laws changed,” Janine said. “This shouldn’t happen to any other family.”
