16 people indicted in the US for large-scale scams involving grandparents

6 May 2024 2 minutes Author: Newsman

US prosecutors have indicted 16 people in a massive scam that involved defrauding elderly people into paying tens of thousands of dollars to settle bogus car accidents. Criminals operating from the United States and the Dominican Republic used call centers to contact victims, pretending to be their relatives in need.

In this extensive crime, the defendants used a sympathetic tactic where they called elderly people and pretended to be their relatives who were in big trouble. They created scenarios where relatives were allegedly arrested or involved in an accident and needed urgent financial assistance. Members of the group initiated the contact, convincing the victims of the immediate need to send money to solve legal and medical problems. In addition, other members known as “convicts” acted as lawyers or police officers to convince victims that payments were necessary. According to the indictment, they also used couriers to collect cash sent by the victims, later attempting to launder the money by transferring it to the Dominican Republic.

After the discovery of this extensive scheme, each of the defendants faces up to 20 years in prison for fraud and money laundering. Law enforcement efforts are aimed at protecting senior citizens and prosecuting those who abuse their trust and vulnerability. Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Potential fines could include $250,000 for each count of mail and wire fraud and $500,000 for each count of money laundering.

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