North Carolina Woman Arrested in Bradenton Elder Fraud Investigation Involving $100,000 Scam
A North Carolina woman has been arrested in connection with an elder fraud investigation involving a 66-year-old Bradenton man who lost at least $100,000 through what authorities describe as a dual investment and romance scam.
The Bradenton Police Department announced that Elder Fraud Detective Jim Curulla, with assistance from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, arrested Elizabeth Ann Hildbrand, 51, of Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 18, 2026. Hildbrand is charged with grand theft and money laundering and is awaiting extradition to Manatee County.
Investigators said the victim filed a fraud report in February after investing approximately $300,000 over two years with an online company called “Tesla 1.” The victim realized he had been scammed when he attempted to withdraw money from the investment account and was unable to access the funds.
According to investigators, the victim communicated through text messages and the Telegram app with two individuals posing as investment brokers, including Hildbrand. Financial records showed the victim transferred $87,651 through wire transfers and cashier’s checks to bank accounts controlled by Hildbrand.
Authorities said the victim also purchased $22,500 in Apple gift cards and provided the card numbers and PINs to the alleged brokers. In addition, the victim reportedly mailed an unknown amount of cash.
Subpoenas for Hildbrand’s financial records allegedly revealed that she deposited much of the victim’s money into her accounts before conducting numerous cryptocurrency transactions.
During an interview with Detective Curulla following her arrest, Hildbrand reportedly claimed she believed she was romantically involved with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and agreed to assist him with cryptocurrency purchases. Investigators said Hildbrand later acknowledged she had become the victim of a romance scam herself, but continued accepting money from the Bradenton victim and transferring the funds into cryptocurrency accounts.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported in its 2025 Internet Crime Report that cyber-related crimes cost Americans nearly $21 billion last year, with investment and romance scams ranking among the most frequently reported and most costly online schemes.
According to BPD, investigations conducted by the department’s Elder Fraud Unit accounted for approximately $8 million in reported losses during 2025. As of May 1, 2026, the unit had already investigated at least $750,000 in losses this year.
The department encourages residents to learn more about fraud prevention and common scams through its Elder Fraud Unit resources. Printed guides are available at BPD headquarters located at 100 10th St. W. in Bradenton.
