Fraud Alert: DOJ Imposter Scams Target Elderly

RALEIGH, N.C. – A new wave of scammer activity has the Department of Justice’ Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) sounding an alarm. Scammers are posing as DOJ investigators to prey on the elderly, seeking personal information over the phone.

The fraudulent calls typically involve scammers leaving a voicemail with a return number that leads to a recorded menu mimicking the DOJ’s main line. An ‘operator’ then directs the victim to a supposed investigator who attempts to extract sensitive data.

OVC Director Jessica Hart calls these scams particularly heinous, targeting one of society’s most vulnerable groups and exploiting public trust in the Justice Department for financial gain.

United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr., emphasized that the DOJ does not seek personal information over the phone and encourages anyone receiving such calls to hang up immediately. The Office also advises victims to report scams to the FTC or FBI for law enforcement action.

The National Elder Fraud Hotline provides a resource for those aged 60 or older to report fraud, with timely reporting increasing the chance of recovering losses. The hotline is available seven days a week and can be reached at https://stopelderfraud.ovc.ojp.gov/.

For more information on the Department of Justice’s history, visit www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.