U.S. authorities are launching a “strike force” to combat offshore fraud schemes that are increasingly targeting American seniors.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a joint law enforcement effort involving Justice, the FBI, six U.S. attorneys’ offices and other agencies that will focus on investigating and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target seniors in the U.S.
“Fraud against the elderly is on the rise,” U.S. attorney general Bill Barr said in a statement. “One of the most significant and pernicious causes for this increase is foreign-based fraud schemes.”
The so-called Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force will comprise investigators, prosecutors and data analysts from the various agencies, using analytics and sophisticated investigative techniques to unmask the perpetrators of foreign fraud schemes.
“Our new Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force will give us additional resources and tools to identify and stop those who are targeting our senior communities from overseas,” said FBI director Christopher Wray.