WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

This is on point. I'm Megna Chakrabardi.

Judith Boavin had done everything right, and yet still, somehow, it all went wrong.

She'd spent her entire working life caring for other people.

She'd been a registered nurse, a licensed social worker, a psychotherapist.

She looked after others both here in the United States and abroad.

Judith is 80 years old now.

After she retired, she kept taking care of others,

specifically her husband now who has Parkinson's.

Judith also took care of her financial life.

She did exactly what financial planners advise. For decades, she diligently

saved money so that she could have the peace of a secure retirement. But then, in September

of 2003, Judith's cell phone rang and her entire life changed.

I was on my way taking my husband to a doctor's appointment.

And we were still in the car when my screen on my car showed the Rockville police.

And I answered it.

And they asked me if I was able to talk and was anybody in the car.

And I said, yes, I'm taking my husband to the doctor.

But he's just now getting out and I have to wait for him.

They said, you know, your social security has been used for three different accounts,

telling me that my social security was being used for money laundering of a cartel that was trafficking fentanyl.

And I said, well, that's crazy.

...