DETROIT – In a shocking move, a Jackson resident has agreed to a court order preventing her from facilitating a suspected international romance scam, marking the first of its kind in the Eastern District of Michigan.

According to the Department of Justice, 70-year-old Holly Locke, a Jackson resident, has agreed to a permanent injunction permanently prohibiting her from assisting, facilitating, or participating in any romance scam. The civil action is part of a broader trend by the Department of Justice to disrupt international fraud rings that target United States citizens through fake social media profiles.

As part of a civil consent decree approved by U.S. District Judge Paul D. Borman, Locke is prohibited from acting as a money transmitter for the international fraud ring. Locke allegedly acted as a money transmitter after meeting and developing a romantic relationship with a fraudster online. She would receive numerous packages from strangers containing money, which she would pass on to her purported fiancé/husband.

The money was sent from victims who believed they were assisting their own online romantic partners and friends. Locke did not admit liability as part of the consent decree. This case is a major victory for the Department of Justice in its efforts to combat international romance scams.

“This office is committed to using every tool at our disposal to protect Americans from fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “This consent decree cuts off the flow of money from the victims to the international fraudsters behind these scams. In an increasingly online world, people are under constant threat from unscrupulous people trying to compromise personal information or otherwise defraud them.”

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is also committed to safeguarding Americans from individuals who attempt to exploit them through fraudulent and deceptive schemes. “Today’s civil action, unprecedented in the Eastern District of Michigan, should serve as a warning to anyone engaging in or abetting similar scams – you will be held accountable and brought to justice,” said Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Detroit Division.

Consumers are urged to be on the lookout for signs someone is trying to recruit them to receive and transmit fraud proceeds. Do not agree to receive money or checks mailed to you or sent to your bank account for someone you have met over the phone or online. Do not open a bank or cryptocurrency account at someone else’s direction. Fraudsters will lie to persuade you to help them.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps.

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