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Elderly Couple Murdered Following Tom Selleck Gift-Card Scam

5/23/2026

31 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Police discovered Karen Whitaker, 79, and Donald Whitaker, 80, dead in their Bermuda Dunes home on May 15, opening a homicide investigation.
A friend says the murder-suicide followed a scam in which an impostor posing as Tom Selleck messaged Karen after she posted about friend, demanding gift cards.
Despite warnings, Karen sent thousands of dollars in cards.
Investigators say there is no evidence the impostor was involved in the deaths.

History

Historical Context

The Nigerian “419” advance-fee email scam has spawned global phishing and gift-card fraud and continues to evolve. By 2004, outlets such as the BBC reported the rise of scam-baiting sites like 419eater.com, which listed over 55,000 registered users. The 2024 Whitaker murder, driven by a Tom Selleck impersonator, mirrors this enduring fraud pattern.

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Story summary

Police discovered Karen Whitaker, 79, and Donald Whitaker, 80, dead in their Bermuda Dunes home on May 15, opening a homicide investigation.
A friend says the murder-suicide followed a scam in which an impostor posing as Tom Selleck messaged Karen after she posted about friend, demanding gift cards.
Despite warnings, Karen sent thousands of dollars in cards.
Investigators say there is no evidence the impostor was involved in the deaths.

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