The Department of Justice and U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced today that a resident of St. James Parish, Jamaica, was extradited to the U.S. and made his initial court appearance in federal court in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on charges related to his involvement in a fake sweepstakes scheme that targeted elderly Americans. These schemes have become so prevalent that they’ve generally become known as ‘Jamaican lottery scams.’
The indictment claims that Oakley intended to enrich himself illegally through an elderly-targeted sweepstakes scheme. It was falsely claimed to victims across the country in mailings, texts, or phone calls that they had won millions of dollars and high-end cars in a sweepstakes but had to first pay taxes and fees to collect their prizes.
The indictment claims that Oakley instructed his victims on how to send their money, using a variety of aliases, including “Officer Alex Logan” and “Officer Stan Valentine,” including wire transfers, direct bank deposits, the U.S. Postal Service, and private commercial mail carriers. Victims donated money to Oakley directly and to people in the U.S. and other countries who acted as middlemen and sent the money to Oakley.
The indictment asserts victims bought electronics, jewelry, and clothing; items were mailed to forwarding services in Florida. Additionally, there were cash and wire transfers. However, victims received no “winnings.”.
Trying To End Elder Fraud
Since the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) became law, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has investigated hundreds of civil and criminal cases disproportionately affecting seniors. In March 2020, the DOJ announced the most significant elder fraud enforcement action, with 400-plus defendants charged in an elder fraud nationwide sweep. Other actions connected to the EAPPA include training and outreach sessions that span the country.
That’s a good step in stopping the billions of dollars seniors lose each year to fraud schemes, including those perpetrated by domestic and transnational criminal organizations. However, one of the best tools in combatting this fraud is sharing information! Educate yourself on the different elder fraud schemes and share your info with friends, relatives, and other seniors. Knowledge is the key to seniors themselves against this terrible and heartbreaking criminal behavior.
The National Elder Fraud Hotline is available to assist anyone 60 years of age or over who has fallen victim to financial fraud. Their number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). The Office for Victims of Crime, which manages this U.S. Department of Justice hotline, staffs it with knowledgeable individuals who offer callers individualized care by determining the victim’s requirements and appropriate next steps. On a case-by-case basis, case managers will identify the appropriate reporting agencies, give callers information to aid in reporting, put callers in direct contact with the relevant agencies, and provide resources and recommendations. The initial step is to report. Reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as feasible will raise the possibility of recovering damages, and reporting can help authorities catch fraudsters. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time. There is a choice of languages, including English and Spanish.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
