Month: October 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

          LOS ANGELES – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced today that it is welcoming 14 additional federal prosecutors’ offices as they join the Justice Department’s Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and to bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice.

          Since 2019, current Strike Force members — including the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, six U.S. Attorney’s Offices including the Central District of California, the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations — have brought successful cases against the largest and most harmful global elder fraud schemes and worked with foreign law enforcement to disrupt criminal enterprises, disable their infrastructure and bring perpetrators to justice.

          Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat sophisticated fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults. The expansion will increase the total number of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices comprising the Strike Force from six to 20, including all of the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland and New York.

          “We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by more than tripling the number of U.S. Attorneys’ offices participating in our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force dedicated to disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This expansion builds on the Justice Department’s existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible.”

          “Our Office, along with our law enforcement partners across the District, have diligently pursued criminals who target and harm older adults, including in cases ranging from transnational romance scams, investment schemes, and even the kidnapping of a local older adult,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Members of our elder justice team also regularly conduct outreach to educate local seniors and to help them avoid new scams. Our goal is to protect our community from economic exploitation by providing information on how to avoid becoming a victim. When that fails, however, we will use all of our tools to investigate crimes that target our most vulnerable residents and vigorously prosecute those responsible for elder abuse.”

          The Strike Force expansion will further enhance the Department’s existing efforts to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the period from September 2021 to September 2022, Department personnel and its law enforcement partners pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants, both bringing new cases and advancing those previously charged. The matters tackled by the Department and its partners ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made over the last year to return money to fraud victims.

          This past year, the elder justice cases the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles prosecuted included:

• Paul Ricky Mata, 59, a former Upland-based financial advisor now serving a 14-year federal prison sentence for committing a real estate investment scam that caused his clients – many of them elderly people who had invested their retirement savings – to lose more than $12 million.
• George Ugochukwu Egwumba, 47, of Cypress, and Princewell Arinze Duru, 33, of Sacramento, who are scheduled to be sentenced on October 17 after a federal jury found them guilty on June 15 of criminal charges for participating in an extensive, long-lasting, multimillion-dollar conspiracy – much of it committed by Nigerian nationals – that perpetrated a wide variety of frauds, including those committed against elders.
• Anuj Mahendrabhai Patel, 32, of Lake Elsinore, is serving a nine-year federal prison sentence for participating in an international fraud scheme in which he helped collect more than $550,000 in cash conned out of elderly victims by other co-conspirators pretending to be federal agents threatening the victims with arrest on bogus warrants.

          As part of the Central District of California’s elder fraud efforts, it engages in outreach to the community and industry to raise awareness about scams and exploitation and preventing victimization. In April 2022, our district’s Elder Justice Coordinator gave a presentation to an audience of older adults at a local NGO’s “Senior Safety Summit,” identifying the most reported scams currently targeting older adults, explaining cryptocurrency’s role in prevalent scams, and providing tips on how to spot and hopefully avoid falling for any scam.

          The Central District of California is comprised of approximately 20 million residents and the seven counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.

          The Department of Justice today also highlighted two other efforts, including success in returning money to victims and efforts to combat grandparent scams.

          In the past year, the Department has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies prosecuted by the Department and were later victims of “sweepstakes” or “astrology” solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 150,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $52 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, the Department has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March of 2020 more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million as a result of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the company’s willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud.

          Over the past year, the Department pursued cases against the perpetrators of “grandparent scams,” otherwise known as “person-in-need scams.” These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult and poses as either a grandchild, other family member or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told that their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money. When recently sentencing one of eight perpetrators of a grandparent scam indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal judge described such scams “heartbreakingly evil.” The Department is working with government partners and others to raise awareness about these schemes. Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professional who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 3 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Time. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.

          Some of the cases that comprise today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEWARK, N.J. – The Justice Department announced today the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the Department and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made over the last year to return money to fraud victims. Today, the Department also announced it is expanding its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to amplify efforts to combat scams originating overseas.

“We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by more than tripling the number of U.S. Attorneys’ offices participating in our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force dedicated to disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said. “This expansion builds on the Justice Department’s existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible.”

“Preying on our older citizens, who are often vulnerable to these types of fraud scams, is something our office takes especially seriously,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “As scammers continue to concoct new ways to try and trick our parents and grandparents out of their money, we will be there with our law enforcement partners to stop them, and to always try to return stolen funds to the victims.” 

From September 2021 to September 2022, Department personnel and its law enforcement partners pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants, both bringing new cases and advancing those previously charged.

This past year, the District of New Jersey brought charges against multiple defendants for devising and carrying out fraudulent schemes that specifically targeted elderly victims. This included seven leaders of the Cape Town Zone of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as “Black Axe,” and an eighth man who conspired with a Black Axe leader, all of whom were charged with multiple federal crimes relating to internet-based romance scams and advance fee schemes they perpetrated from South Africa. The District also obtained guilty pleas from multiple defendants whose lottery sweepstakes scams and romance scams had targeted elderly victims in New Jersey.

As part of the District of New Jersey’s elder fraud efforts, the Office engages in outreach to raise awareness about scams and exploitation and preventing victimization. This year, these outreach efforts included a presentation to seniors at the Springfield, New Jersey community center on April 28, 2022, entitled “Identity Theft & Fraud Prevention,” in cooperation with representatives from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Springfield, New Jersey, Police Department.

The Department also highlighted three other efforts: expansion of the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, success in returning money to victims, and efforts to combat grandparent scams. 

The Department announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, adding 14 new U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.

In the past year, the Department has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for remission payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies prosecuted by the Department and were later victims of “sweepstakes” or “astrology” solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 160,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $62 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, the Department has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March of 2020 more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million as a result of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the company’s willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud.

Over the past year, the Department pursued cases against the perpetrators of “grandparent scams,” otherwise known as “person-in-need scams.” These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult and poses as either a grandchild, other family member or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told that their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money. When recently sentencing one of eight perpetrators of a grandparent scam indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal judge described such scams “heartbreakingly evil.” The Department is working with government partners and others to raise awareness about these schemes.

Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-866 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professional who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.[ET]. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.

Some of the cases that comprise today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PORTLAND, Maine: The Justice Department announced today the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the Department and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made over the last year to return money to fraud victims.

“We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by more than tripling the number of U.S. Attorneys’ offices participating in our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force dedicated to disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This expansion builds on the Justice Department’s existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible.”

“Maine has the highest percentage of older adults in the country,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. “Last year, 475 senior Mainers reported being the victim of fraud, with losses totally more than $2.5M. We believe that actual losses are likely to be far higher as fear and embarrassment often keep seniors from reporting that they have been victimized by these cruel scams.”

As part of the District of Maine’s elder fraud efforts, it engages in outreach to the community and industry to raise awareness about scams and exploitation and preventing victimization. In September, the U.S. Attorney’s Office distributed a 30-second PSA about spotting elder fraud scams and a 45-second PSA about “grandparent scams” to law enforcement and senior-related organizations around the state to use to educate their local communities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will also distribute information directly this winter, beginning with the People Plus Senior Health Expo in Brunswick on October 20.

“Our goal is to educate Maine seniors about current scam tactics,” McElwee said. “The perpetrators are professionals and know just how to reach and convince their victims, using everything from technology to their love for their grandchildren to bilk them out of their hard-earned savings. Knowing how to spot the red flags is key but so, too, is knowing when and how to report a scam. We know that it is difficult to admit that you were fooled, but the fraud only stops when the perpetrators are reported and caught. If you or a loved one were the victim of a senior scam, you should never hesitate to call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 and reach out to your local law enforcement to report it.”

The Department of Justice announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice, it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force by adding 14 new U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.

In the past year, the Department has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for remission payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies prosecuted by the Department and were later victims of “sweepstakes” or “astrology” solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 150,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $52 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, the Department has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March of 2020 more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million as a result of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the company’s willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud.

Over the past year, the Department pursued cases against the perpetrators of “grandparent scams,” otherwise known as “person-in-need scams.” These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult and poses as either a grandchild, other family member or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told that their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money.

Reporting Senior Fraud: Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. [ET]. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

COLUMBUS, Ohio – United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker announced today that nine prosecutions in the Southern District of Ohio are included in the Department of Justice’s National Elder Justice Sweep. The initiative also includes outreach within the Southern District of Ohio to connect with the District’s senior citizens.

“Elder fraud schemes can be devastating to senior citizen victims and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “My office is firmly committed to working with the community to prevent these crimes, and to using all available tools – both civil and criminal – to address those who prey on the trust and emotions of some of our most vulnerable people in the community.”

U.S. Attorney Parker announced his office is partnering with AARP Ohio to conduct outreach to senior citizens located in the Southern District of Ohio. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is distributing materials to AARP members about how to prevent elder abuse, the types of abuse and resources for reporting suspected fraud.

“There were more than $86 million in scam losses reported in Ohio last year, but the true cost is much higher,” said AARP Ohio State Director Holly Holtzen. “AARP Ohio is working hard to help people spot and avoid these criminal scams, but education alone is not enough. We are proud to partner with the Department of Justice and commend their efforts to stand up for seniors and bring these criminals to justice.”

The national law enforcement sweep announced today includes filed cases with events happening between Sept. 1, 2021, and Sept. 16, 2022.

The cases in the Southern District of Ohio include romance scams, investment fraud, embezzlement, marketing scams and government imposters.

Romance Scams

In U.S. v. Seth Nyamekye, the defendant and co-conspirators created profiles on online dating sites and cultivated romantic relationships with elderly victims who they then convinced to send money for investments that did not exist. A federal jury convicted Nyamekye of 35 counts of money laundering and related fraud counts in June 2022 following a two-week trial in Columbus.

Defendants related to U.S. v. Samuel Antwi committed a similar online romance fraud scheme. In this case, the eight co-conspirators convinced victims to send money or to share their personal financial information. The defendants in this case, which was filed in Columbus, have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging form 18 months to 42 months.

In the Cincinnati case U.S. v. Delove Kofi Amuzu, Amuzu and others led victims to believe they were in romantic relationships and needed money for things such as medical bills, plane tickets and other valuable items. Amuzu was indicted in January 2022 and his charges remain pending.

Investment Fraud Scams

Shahiydullah Binraymond was sentenced in Columbus in April 2022 to 44 months in prison for defrauding an elderly couple. Binraymond executed a sophisticated scheme to get the victims to transfer real estate property to him.

In Dayton, Steven L. Humphrey pleaded guilty in May 2022 to committing wire fraud and defrauding an elderly victim of $1 million. Humphrey convinced the elderly victim to invest approximately $250,000 in rubber, classic cars and bitcoin. In fact, Humphrey was using the money for automobiles, clothes, fishing gear and firearms.

Embezzlement

Mark Alan Thomas pleaded guilty in federal court in Columbus in June 2022 to mail fraud. Thomas stole more than half a million dollars from an elderly victim with dementia while acting as the woman’s power of attorney.

Marketing Scam

In U.S. v. Mary-Helene Massullo, D.O., which was indicted in August 2022, telemarketers allegedly targeted Medicare and Medicaid recipients as part of a pain cream scheme. It is alleged that Massullo authorized authorized pain creams for recipients without ever seeing or examining them. The victims were then harassed with telemarketing calls.

Government Imposters

In February 2022, Sagarkumar Patel pleaded guilty to mail fraud crimes. In this case, call center scammers identifying themselves as government officials contacted elderly victims and convinced them that warrants would be issued for their arrest unless the victims mailed the scammers large sums of money.

In U.S. v. Christopher Thornton, the defendant called an elderly victim claiming to be a federal officer who was collecting delinquent taxes and fees on the victim’s property. Thornton told the victim if she did not pay immediately her property would be seized by the government. The defendant signed a pretrial diversion agreement in March 2022.

Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth Affeldt is the Elder Justice Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Affeldt and Assistant United States Attorneys Julie Garcia, Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, Noah R. Litton, Rob Painter, Timothy Prichard, S. Courter Shimeall and David Twombly represented the United States in these cases.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

HOUSTON – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation.

During the past year, DOJ and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made to return money to fraud victims. DOJ also announced it is expanding its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to amplify efforts to combat scams originating overseas.

 “We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by more than tripling the number of U.S. Attorneys’ offices participating in our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force dedicated to disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This expansion builds on the Justice Department’s existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible.”

“ ‘Respect your elders’ is one of the most fundamental principles we are taught,” said U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.” Sadly, however, all too often we see our most vulnerable senior citizens fall victim to fraud and/or abuse. From call center scams to theft, my office has worked diligently to hold such scammers accountable. We will continue these efforts as part of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force with the hope we can preserve the dignity of our beloved aging community.”

From September 2021 to September 2022, DOJ personnel and its law enforcement partners pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants, both bringing new cases and advancing those previously charged. The matters DOJ tackled ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. There were also substantial efforts over the last year to return money to fraud victims.

In the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) over the past year, federal grand juries returned indictments in 10 cases involving more than 15 defendants. Loss amounts totaled approximately $38 million from elderly victims throughout the district.

As part of its elder fraud efforts, the SDTX also engages in outreach to the community and industry to raise awareness about scams and exploitation and preventing victimization. For example, the SDTX conducted a podcast in conjunction with AARP and FBI in Spanish for elderly citizens in our communities. Additional Podcasts are planned this year.

DOJ also highlighted three other efforts: expansion of the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, success in returning money to victims and efforts to combat grandparent scams. 

DOJ announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, adding 14 new U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate DOJ’s ongoing efforts to combat largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.

In the past year, DOJ has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for remission payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies DOJ prosecuted and were later victims of “sweepstakes” or “astrology” solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 150,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $52 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, DOJ has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March 2020, more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million as a result of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the company’s willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud.

Over the past year, DOJ also pursued cases against the perpetrators of “grandparent scams,” AKA “person-in-need scams.” These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult and poses as either a grandchild, other family member or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money.

When recently sentencing one of eight perpetrators of a grandparent scam indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal judge described such scams as “heartbreakingly evil.” DOJ is also working with government partners and others to raise awareness about these schemes.

Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 833-372-8311. The Office for Victims of Crime manages the DOJ hotline. Experienced professionals provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps.

Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about DOJ’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website.

Some of the cases that comprise today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.