A group of scammers from the Dominican Republic has been charged with defrauding elderly victims in the United States of a collective $35 million through a grandparent scam. The scammers would impersonate relatives, typically grandchildren, claiming to be in dire situations and in need of money for bail or legal fees. They targeted victims between the ages of 72 and 93 in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The scammers would play on the emotions of the victims, convincing them to hand over money that would ultimately be lost.
The scammers used various tactics to manipulate their elderly victims, including pretending to be relatives who were in car accidents or had been arrested. They would appeal to the victims’ sense of love and obligation to their family members, leading them to act quickly to send money. In one instance, an 87-year-old woman was almost scammed out of thousands of dollars by a fraudster who posed as her sister’s grandson in need of bail money. Fortunately, the Homeland Security Investigations New York El Dorado Task Force Cyber Intrusion Group intervened in time to prevent the exchange of money in this case.
The scammers would often utilize a two-step process, with one person pretending to be a relative and convincing the victim to send money, while another person would then call impersonating defense attorneys, police officers, or court personnel to demand further payments. The scammers would typically send local couriers to pick up the money from the victims’ homes. The individuals involved in the scam operation were charged with various offenses, including mail and wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and wire fraud.
The scammers operated out of call centers in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic, with additional individuals in New York City acting as cash couriers. The nature of the crimes perpetrated against elderly victims has been described as depraved, with law enforcement agencies emphasizing their commitment to protecting older populations from exploitation and fraud. The charges brought against the defendants demonstrate the dedication of law enforcement agencies to safeguard vulnerable individuals from falling victim to financial scams.
In response to these types of scams targeting the elderly, the National Elder Fraud Hotline has been established to provide assistance to individuals over 60 years old who have been defrauded. The hotline can be reached at 1-833-FRAUD-11 for those seeking support or reporting instances of elder fraud. The case of the scammers from the Dominican Republic highlights the importance of vigilance and awareness in protecting vulnerable populations from falling victim to financial exploitation and fraudulent schemes. Law enforcement agencies are committed to pursuing those responsible for defrauding elderly individuals and holding them accountable for their actions.
