>>>
>>> ONLY
>>> ONLY ON 12 NEWS, CAUGHT IN THE ACT.
THE ACT.
THE ACT. >> AND ALLEGED SWEETHEART
SWINDLERS SECRETLY RECORDED BY
HER VICTIM AS SHE MOCKS HIM.>>
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THANKS FOR
A COUPLE HUNDRED GRAND BUDDY,
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY.
>> FROM THE 12 NEWS ITEM, THIS
WOMAN IS INVESTIGATED.
>> THE VICTIMS ARE OFTEN TOO
EMBARRASSED TO GO TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
ENFORCEMENT. PLEASE REFER TO THE WOMEN GOING
AFTER THEIR HEARTS AND WALLETS
AS SWEETHEART SWINDLERS.
THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY
DO, AND RARELY GET CAUGHT.
BUT THIS TIME, ONE ALLEGED
SWINDLER WENT AFTER THE WRONG
GUY.>> I REALLY TRUSTED HER.
>> THEY ARE PRAYING ON A
GENERATION OF MEN WHO FOR THE
MAJORITY OF THEIR LIFE HAVE
NEVER BEEN ALONE.>> I WAS
RETIRED, I WAS LOOKING FOR
SOMETHING THAT I COULD PUT SOME
MONEY IN.
MONEY IN.
MONEY IN. SHE REALLY KNOWS WHAT SHE IS
TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW.>> MS.
COSTELLO, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU
CAN SAY TO THE FAMILY OF THE
VICTIM IN THIS CASE?
>> IT'S A MONUMENTAL FEAT SAY
INVESTIGATORS, GETTING THIS
MOTHER ON ACCUSED SWEETHEART
SWINDLER, ARRESTED AND CHARGED.
AND SLAPPED WITH AN ANKLE
MONITORING BRACELET.
MONITORING BRACELET. >> GETTING THEM TO COURT IS
DIFFICULT.
DIFFICULT. HAVING EVIDENCE OF THIS TYPE IS
ALMOST UNHEARD OF.
>> FORMER PHOENIX FRAUD
DETECTIVE TRAINS COPS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND HOW TO
INVESTIGATE SWEETHEART
INVESTIGATE SWEETHEART SWINDLERS.
SWINDLERS. SO HOW CAN THIS WINTER WERE IN
HIS 80s BUILD A CRIMINAL CASE
AGAINST COSTELLO?
AGAINST COSTELLO? HE BECAME SUSPICIOUS ABOUT
WHETHER HIS MONEY WAS GOING TO
A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS AND HE
BEGAN RECORDING HIS PHONE
CONVERSATIONS WITH HER.
>> THE RECORDINGS SHOW HER AT
TIMES BEGGING FOR MONEY, AS THE
INDICTMENT LAYS OUT, COSTELLO
TELLS THE VICTIM THAT SHE LOVES
HIM, AND ATTEMPTS TO PLAY ON
HIS EMOTIONS, AND IN ONE LAST
CONVERSATION ATTEMPTS TO EXTORT
THE VICTIM IF SHE WAS REPORTED
TO POLICE.
TO POLICE. BUT DURING A MOMENT OF
DESPERATION HE GETS HER TO SIGN
A CONTRACT.
A CONTRACT. EVIDENCE THAT WILL LATER BE
USED AGAINST HER.
>> I WOULD SAY FOR A GENTLEMAN
OF HIS AGE, HE IS EXTREMELY
SHARP.
SHARP.
SHARP. >>
SHARP. >> AND THERE IS PERHAPS THE
MOST DAMNING EVIDENCE, DURING
AN ARGUMENT CASTILLO APPEARS TO
OUTRIGHT ADMIT.
OUTRIGHT ADMIT. >> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THANKS
FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED GRAND, YOU
MESSED UP BIG TIME.
>> YOU ARE RECORDED SAYING HE
WILL VICTIMIZE SOMEONE ELSE.
IT COSTELLO NOT TALKING ABOUT
ANY OF IT AFTER A COURT
HEARING, BROWN HAS INVESTIGATED
ASSOCIATES OF COSTELLO SINCE
THE LATE 90s.
>> I'VE RUN INTO QUITE A FEW
DIFFERENT FAMILIES THAT LIVE
HERE THAT USE PHOENIX AS THEIR
BASE.>> COSTELLO'S ATTORNEY NOT
COMMENTING ON WHETHER COSTELLO
IS WILLING TO PAY BACK THE
MONEY IN A PLEA DEAL.
DO YOU PLAN ON PAYING BACK THE
$270,000 YOU TOOK?>> NO
COMMENT.
COMMENT.
COMMENT. >> FOR THIS RETIREE, THE ENTIRE
ORDEAL, A COSTLY LESSON.
B MAKE EXPERTS SAY A GROWING
RETIREMENT POPULATION IN THE
PHOENIX AREA REMAINS VULNERABLE
TO OTHER SWEETHEART SWINDLERS.
>> I HAVE BEEN AMAZED OVER THE
YEARS AT HOW EASY IT IS FOR
THEM TO DRAW MONEY INTO A
SWEETHEART'S WINDOW.
SWEETHEART'S WINDOW. >> ARIZONA JUST PASS A LAW TO
HELP VULNERABLE ADULTS FROM
SCAMS.
SCAMS.
SCAMS. IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR
FAMILY MEMBERS AND ADVOCATES OF
OLDER ADULTS TO