In a recent development from Miramar, Florida, a woman has admitted to laundering a staggering $2.7 million through a series of romance scams.
Cristine Petitfrere, 30, confessed to her involvement in the fraudulent scheme, which saw her using bank accounts to receive and distribute funds, while retaining a substantial portion for herself.
As reported by Newsweek, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) revealed that Petitfrere's modus operandi was not uncommon in the world of romance scams. These scams typically involve the creation of a fabricated online persona, which is then used to manipulate and exploit vulnerable individuals, often the elderly, into parting with their money. Petitfrere now faces a potential decade-long prison sentence, with her sentencing scheduled for December 11 in the Southern District of Florida.
Petitfrere was apprehended in May and subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, illegal money remitting, and engaging in transactions with criminal proceeds. The indictment obtained by Newsweek alleged that the fraudsters would concoct stories about foreign travel to justify their inability to meet their victims in person. These scams often involve the creation of fictitious personas, with the fraudsters posing as accountants, lawyers, or other professionals.
The indictment further revealed that Petitfrere's alleged co-conspirator was based in Ghana. This international connection underscores the global nature of these fraudulent schemes and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Brian Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department's Civil Division, emphasized the devastating impact of romance scams. He stated that these scams "cause not only significant losses but also profound emotional harm to countless individuals." Boynton added, "This prosecution underscores the department's efforts to dismantle the criminal networks that engage in these sophisticated financial schemes to exploit vulnerable Americans."
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reported that Americans lost $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2021 and a staggering $1.3 billion in 2022. The FTC also highlighted the most common lies used by romance scammers, which include claims of a loved one being sick, injured, or incarcerated, promises of investment advice, assertions of military deployment, and requests for assistance with important deliveries.
According to Homeland Security Investigations, the preferred payment methods of romance scammers are cryptocurrency, bank wire transfers, gift cards, or payment apps. Statista data reveals that romance scams were most prevalent in California, Florida, Texas, and New York in 2023.
For victims of romance scams, support is available through the Cybercrime Support Network, which offers a 10-week recovery group led by a licensed counselor. Furthermore, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a valuable resource for reporting such scams. The Petitfrere case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat of online scams and the importance of vigilance in the digital age.
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