A dual U.S.-Costa Rican citizen has pleaded guilty to his role in a $1.88 million sweepstakes fraud scheme that defrauded hundreds of elderly Americans.
Geoffrey Alexander Ramer, 34, of Costa Rica, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer of the Western District of North Carolina to wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the telemarketing fraud scheme.
"Ramer preyed upon some of the most vulnerable members of our society, callously and repeatedly defrauding elderly Americans by stealing their life savings," said Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell.
The scheme, which occurred from 2008 through December 2013, involved Ramer owning and operating call centers in Costa Rica. Ramer and his co-conspirators called U.S. residents, many of whom were elderly, and falsely informed them that they had won a substantial cash prize in a sweepstakes.
The victims were told that in order to receive the prize, they had to send money to Costa Rica for a purported refundable insurance fee. After receiving the fee, Ramer and his co-conspirators contacted the victims again, and falsely informed them that the prize amount had increased and, therefore, the victims had to send additional money to pay for new purported fees.
Ramer often falsely claimed to be calling on behalf of a U.S. federal agency to lure victims into a false sense of security. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Patrick Donley and Trial Attorney William Bowne of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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