The U.S. Middle District of Florida Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced on Tuesday (August 4th) that three Chinese citizens have been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a transnational mail and telecommunications scam targeting elderly people across the United States. The group induced victims to send cash and checks by creating panic over personal information leaks, with the known amount involved in the case exceeding $2 million.
According to the criminal indictment released by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Middle District of Florida Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the three arrested suspects are 36-year-old Yongbo Li, 62-year-old Huashan Lu, and 60-year-old Yuxiang Zhao. All three individuals currently have expired visas, indicating they are in violation of residency laws.
The indictment alleges that Li, Lu, Zhao, and others were involved in an organized fraud scheme. They contacted victims through phone calls, emails, and internet pop-ups, falsely claiming that their personal and bank account information had been leaked or compromised, and asserting that immediate action was required to resolve the issue.
Victims were typically instructed to mail cashier’s checks, money orders, or cash to post office boxes in the Orlando area and its vicinity. Currently, 28 victims have been identified, a majority of whom are elderly individuals.
This case was cracked after several months of joint investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Orlando Police Department. Additionally, authorities revealed that three other accomplices located in China are still being pursued.
Gregory W. Kehoe of the Middle District of Florida emphasized during a press conference a “zero tolerance” stance towards fraudulent acts targeting vulnerable groups. The three Chinese suspects are currently facing a criminal charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. If convicted, they could face a maximum of 30 years in prison.