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Defendant Name, Crime, State Year
More than 400 defendants have been charged in the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history, with losses exceeding $1 billion. The charges were announced by United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald, Attorney General William P. Barr, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, and Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale.
The sweep targeted financial schemes that allegedly targeted or largely affected seniors, with offenders charged in cases involving aggressive phone-based marketing scams, phony investment opportunities, and imposter schemes. The cases were brought by prosecutors in coordination with the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Attorney General Barr made the announcement at an event in Florida entitled “Keeping Seniors Safe,” which outlined his vision for protecting older Americans from financial harm. The event focused special attention on the threat posed by foreign-based fraud schemes that victimize seniors in large numbers.
“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “This year, the prosecutors prosecuted more than 400 defendants, whose schemes totaled more than a billion dollars. I want to thank the men and women of the Consumer Protection Branch, which coordinated this effort, and all those in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Criminal Division who worked tirelessly to bring these cases. The agency is committed to stopping the full range of criminal activities that exploit America’s seniors.”
The charges announced today demonstrate the great success of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to identify and stop those who are targeting our senior communities from overseas, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We’re committed to continuing our efforts to keep our elderly citizens safe, whether they’re being targeted door-to-door, over the phone, or online.”
Attorney General Barr also announced the launch of a National Elder Fraud Hotline, which will provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers will assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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