BOSTON – A grim tale of financial chicanery unfolds as Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia and 12 others are charged for masterminding a transnational elder fraud scheme that scammed hundreds into believing their loved ones were in peril. The plot thickens with allegations of a sophisticated “call center” operation in the Dominican Republic, where victims were conned out of over $5 million.
According to authorities, Garcia’s crew, including English-speaking co-conspirators, executed so-called “grandparent scams,” tricking elderly Americans into thinking their kin were in dire straits. The defendants then allegedly laundered the proceeds back to the Dominican Republic.
The scheme was a high-wire act of deceit. First, an ‘Opener’ posed as a distressed relative. Next, a ‘Closer’ impersonated a lawyer, demanding cash for legal fees. Garcia’s alleged lieutenants oversaw this operation with a network of managers and employees who were directed to extract money from the elderly via various means, including ransom payments and bank withdrawals.
Victims were often duped into shipping cash packages or handing over funds to unsuspecting rideshare drivers. In one chilling case, callers even instructed victims to withdraw additional funds at banks under false pretenses. The fraudulent proceeds were then funneled through money launderers in both the United States and the Dominican Republic.
As justice prevails, those implicated face serious charges, including conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, which could lead to sentences of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines reaching $250,000. The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries similar penalties. Those who suspect they may have fallen victim to this scheme or other elder frauds are urged to contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI for assistance.
RELATED: Elderly Targeted: $5M Scam Lands Dominican National in US Jail
RELATED: Grandparent Scam: $5M Laundered, DR National Jailed
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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