DoJ Elder Fraud Sweep

• AG Barr of Justice Department said it coordinated largest US elder fraud sweep.

Coverage

• Cases during this sweep involved more than 260 defendants from around globe
• Defendants victimized more than two million Americans, most of them elderly.
• DoJ took action in every federal district across country in criminal or civil cases.
• List of elder fraud cases pursued by DoJ can be seen using an interactive map.
• In total, the charged elder fraud schemes caused alleged losses of millions of
  dollars more than last year; losses were over three fourths of one billion dollars.
• Since enacted bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA),
  DoJ has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions, training and outreach.

Types of Fraud

• Actions include tech-support fraud, transnational mass mailing elder fraud cases.
• Plus money mule networks through mail, electronically, that facilitate elder fraud.
• DoJ benefited from work of International Mass-Marketing Fraud Working Group.
• IMMFWG agencies in Belgium, Canada, Europol, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, UK.
• As part of state, federal, and international crackdown on tech support scams, FTC
  said temporarily shut down Utah-based scheme duping consumers into believing
  their computers were infected with viruses and to sell them costly repair services.
• US judge issued temporary restraining order against Elite IT Partners and founder.
• FTC action is part of DoJ elder fraud initiative and its focus on tech-support scams.