Bitcoin Fraud Targeting Elderly Women Results in Six-Year Prison Sentence

A 30-year-old woman who orchestrated an elaborate bitcoin investment fraud scheme targeting elderly women across multiple U.S. jurisdictions has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison.

Sze Man Yu Inos, commonly known as Yuki, received a 71-month prison term on April 23, 2026, after being convicted of wire fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona also ordered three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and over $769,000 in restitution.

Federal prosecutors described a methodical fraud operation that began in November 2020 and continued through January 2022. Inos initially targeted older women in Saipan and Guam before expanding her scheme to victims in Washington and California.

“Criminals engaged in affinity fraud prey on our willingness to trust others,” warned U.S. Attorney Shawn N. Anderson, highlighting the psychological manipulation central to Inos’s approach.

According to court documents, Inos cultivated close relationships with her victims through expensive meals, gifts, and fabricated personal narratives. She routinely told victims, “You are like my mom,” to foster emotional connections before soliciting funds. She constructed an elaborate persona, claiming to come from a wealthy Chinese family, own multiple successful businesses, and possess expertise in bitcoin investing.

The FBI investigation revealed particularly brazen tactics, including forging a federal judge’s signature to advance her schemes. “Her actions demonstrate contempt not only for the victims she defrauded but also for the rule of law,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter.

This case emerges amid growing concern about cryptocurrency-related fraud targeting vulnerable populations. While legitimate cryptocurrency investments have attracted mainstream attention, the sector has simultaneously become fertile ground for sophisticated scams that exploit limited regulatory oversight and public confusion about digital assets.

The cryptocurrency market, valued at approximately $2.5 trillion globally, has experienced significant volatility in recent years, creating both legitimate investment opportunities and openings for fraudsters. Bitcoin, the most recognized cryptocurrency, has seen dramatic price fluctuations that scammers often reference to create a sense of urgency and promise of outsized returns.

Law enforcement agencies across the United States have reported a substantial increase in cryptocurrency-related fraud cases since 2020, coinciding with the pandemic-era boom in digital asset investment. Elder fraud involving cryptocurrencies has been particularly concerning, with the FBI reporting a 400% increase in cryptocurrency scams targeting seniors between 2019 and 2022.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that Inos continued her fraudulent activities even while legal proceedings against her were underway, demonstrating a pattern of persistent criminal behavior. In addition to the prison sentence and restitution, the court issued a separate criminal forfeiture money judgment exceeding $684,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth R. Backe, who prosecuted the case, noted that “affinity fraud” – where scammers exploit shared connections or identities to build trust – represents a growing threat, particularly to older Americans who may be less familiar with cryptocurrency investments.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Honolulu division, which maintains jurisdiction over the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Western Pacific.

Financial regulators continue to warn consumers about cryptocurrency investment schemes, advising particular caution regarding unsolicited investment opportunities, guaranteed returns, and pressure tactics – all elements present in the Inos case.