⏱ 2 min read
Scammers are impersonating federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials, targeting American citizens across the country, including in Ohio, in a sophisticated scheme to defraud people of money. The perpetrators, potentially based outside the US, contact victims via text, email, or phone, claiming they are suspects in a fraud investigation or have been a victim of fraud. They often provide convincing details, such as law enforcement titles, badge numbers, and addresses, to gain credibility.
The scammers may even spoof phone numbers to make calls appear to come from legitimate government agencies, further deceiving victims. In this scheme, callers are identifying themselves as ‘Prosecutor Dominick Gerace’, a name that is actually shared by a real US Attorney. The goal is to extract personal information, including credit card numbers, banking details, and other sensitive data.
Federal authorities, including the FBI and DOJ, are warning citizens to be vigilant and not to provide any personal information or money in response to these fake investigations. US Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II emphasized that the Department of Justice and the FBI will never direct people to wire money or ask for personal info over the phone. The FBI’s Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge, Jason Cromartie, also cautioned that government impersonation scams are on the rise and scammers are getting more sophisticated.
To avoid becoming a victim of this type of scam, citizens are advised to be suspicious of unsolicited calls, texts, and emails, and never give money or personal info to someone they don’t know. The FBI encourages people to report any such activity to ic3.gov and to protect their hard-earned savings by never sending money in response to these scams.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Ohio
- Location: OH
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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