WASHINGTON (Michigan News Source) – The Department of Justice announced the return of over $79,000 stolen from a Michigan man in a “debt elimination services” scam.
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Fraudsters had contacted the victim in September 2021, offering illegitimate debt elimination services and convincing the victim to make upfront “fee payments.” An FBI investigation traced the stolen funds to various bank accounts. The money was eventually forfeited to the United States and returned to the victim.
“Scams, including fraudulent promises to eliminate debt, are everywhere and can financially ruin unsuspecting victims. Be aware: If something sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Thankfully … the fraud in this case was detected quickly and all lost funds were returned to the victim. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to use every available tool to ensure fraudsters don’t benefit from their crimes.”
A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Michigan lists several of the most common scams to watch out for:
• Lottery scams, claiming that victims have won the lottery and must pay an upfront fee or tax to collect their winnings;
• Grandparent scams, attempting to convince elderly victims that their grandchildren need money;
• Romance scams, lulling victims into believing they’re in a romantic relationship and their partner needs money for some seemingly legitimate purpose;
• Government scams, pretending to be the IRS or another government agency that the victim owes money;
• Investment scams, persuading victims that lucrative investment opportunities are available.
The DOJ warns Michigan residents to never share personal information, avoid paying upfront fees for a potential future return, and to ask trusted family members for advice before acting on a potential scam.
Those who have been contacted by a scammer or have fallen victim to a scam can file a report with the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11, the Federal Trade Commission at 877-FTC-HELP, or the FBI website.
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