The imposter often starts the scam by calling the TPA, identifying himself or herself as an actual accountholder, and requesting a withdrawal distribution form. The scammer frequently targets vulnerable individuals who possess significant financial assets, such as retired widows or widowers.Ī “retirement account scam” is a type of online fraud that occurs when a third party administrator (TPA) for retirement investment accounts is tricked into authorizing a money distribution to an imposter posing as the true accountholder. The scammer then uses this fake person to express romantic interest in the victim in order to trick him or her into sending money to the scammer. The scammer creates a fake online dating profile that depicts photographs of an attractive man or woman alongside descriptions of the fictitious person. The fraudulent email instructs the victim to wire money to a bank account controlled by conspirators.Ī “romance scam” is a type of online fraud that occurs when an individual user of an internet dating website is targeted for fraud by an imposter posing as a potential paramour. Attorney Pak, the indictment, and other information presented in court: The defendants served as money launderers for other individuals throughout the world who conducted cyber-enabled fraud, including business email compromise schemes, romance scams, and retirement account scams, targeted at companies and individuals across the United States.Ī “business email compromise” (BEC) is a type of computer intrusion that occurs when an employee of a company is tricked into interacting with an email message that appears to be, but is not, legitimate.
“Foreign nationals arrested in this scheme will be placed into removal proceedings upon completion of their criminal sentence.”Īccording to U.S. “No one deserves to have their hard-earned money stolen from them, so identifying and arresting these defendants makes everyone in the community safer,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. Attorney’s Office and our partners to safeguard the nation’s critical financial infrastructure and the people in our communities.” “The Secret Service will continue to collaborate with the U.S. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. “This investigation and subsequent arrests is due to the level of cooperation and information sharing by all law enforcement partners involved,” said Steven R. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations,” stated Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent-in-Charge, Atlanta Region, U.S. “An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud relating to employee benefit plans. Hopefully the arrests and pending prosecutions will at least give them solace that someone is being held accountable for their losses.” “There is no way we can make the victims of these schemes, many who have lost their life savings, whole again. “The FBI would like to thank our numerous federal, state and local law enforcement partners who helped make these arrests possible,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. These arrests affirm the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting those who prey on our most vulnerable citizens.” “Some of these schemes target the elderly and often deplete the victims’ entire life savings. “Fraud schemes, like the ones perpetrated and facilitated by these defendants, inflict considerable losses on citizens, companies, and the financial system,” said U.S. Business email compromise schemes, romance fraud scams, and retirement account scams, among other frauds, duped numerous victims into losing more than $30 million. ATLANTA – Federal agents have arrested twenty-four individuals for their involvement in a large-scale fraud and money laundering operation that targeted citizens, corporations, and financial institutions throughout the United States.
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