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San Diego (FOX 5/KUSI) – Fabricio Arias, 46, a California man, is a broad international fraud scheme that is the victim of elderly people all over the United States, namely 41 months in a federal prison was declared. The Department of Justice announced in a press release.
The verdict was carried over by US District Jinsk Ota. He also ordered Arias to pay $395,536.05 in reparations to the 22 victims who were prey to the fraud.
Arias, who lived in Fontana City, was part of a larger conspiracy to trick and scam older people, believing they had won the sweepstakes award. The victim was told they would have to pay a fee or tax before claiming the alleged prize money. Between November 2020 and September 2022, Arias helped to wash out unfair revenue by receiving funds from her home and moving her to a US-based bank account.
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According to the legal agreement, Arias worked closely with his co-conspirators operating in Costa Rica. Scammers who used spoofed phone numbers to hide their identity contacted victims across the country. They appeared as representatives of the Internal Revenue Service or the Federal Trade Commission, and convinced older victims to send money to Arias to cover fictitious taxes and fees.
Arias then deposits fraudulent payments into his account, often using false names and other deceptive methods to hide the true source of money. He transferred the funds to his co-conspirators in Costa Rican, and maintained a significant portion of his revenue for himself.
The victims, which had many in their 70s, 80s, or 90s, suffered serious financial losses, the release noted. Some relied on reverse mortgages and took advantage of university savings to return to work after retirement. One victim lost an entire 401(k) retirement account, while the other victims lost their lives savings.
Arias has received more than $395,000 from the scam for nearly two years. Over $237,000 of that amount was sent to his conspirators, but Arias personally maintained $157,000.
“If it seems too good, that’s probably true,” said Tara McGrath, the US lawyer for the scam. “These schemes are difficult to identify and are very appealing. If you are suspicious, hang up and report the suspicious caller to law enforcement.”
Brandon Naar’s special agent added: “It is a serious crime to sacrifice a taxpayer by impersonating an IRS employee.”
The investigation included several law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Justice Elders Judiciary Initiative.
The case was indicted by US lawyer Aide Patrick C. Swan.
Anyone who believes they have targeted similar scams is encouraged to report to the FBI at IC3.gov or call the National Elder Fruad Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD11.
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