"While prosecutors contend that the masterminds of the fraud scheme worked from India, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, the San Diego barbershop owner and his alleged crew are suspected of moving tens of millions of dollars from the fraud victims to the international perpetrators through fake San Diego businesses in exchange for a cut of the profits, according to court records."
"A handful of the alleged money launderers from San Diego are also charged with directly taking part in the fraud itself, with prosecutors arguing that their accents gave them a leg up in successfully manipulating their targets. The recruiting of these money transmitters is believed to have been advantageous to the India-based (criminal organization) because native American English speakers had a higher conversion rate in defrauding elderly Americans, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Goff wrote in a court document unsealed Wednesday."
A Miramar barbershop owner, several employees, and roughly two dozen San Diegans are alleged to have played key roles in a large international elder fraud operation. The scheme is suspected of bilking more than 500 victims of over $40 million. The alleged masterminds operated from India, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, while the San Diego group allegedly moved tens of millions to those perpetrators through fake local businesses in exchange for a cut. Some local defendants are charged with direct fraud, with prosecutors saying native American English accents improved conversion rates. The FBI and partner agencies executed raids and arrests.
Read at www.sandiegouniontribune.com
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