by Lisa Lake
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Most of us have seen those ads with Publishers Clearing House knocking on someone’s door with balloons and a big check for millions. It’s a life-changing moment marked by joyous tears. Dreams are about to come true.

But the FTC wants to be sure your tears are not sad ones and the dream doesn’t wind up being a nightmare, because scammers are pretending to be Publishers Clearing House and tricking people into sending them money.

Publishers Clearing House and the FTC have both gotten many reports about scammers using the Publishers Clearing House name to deceive people. Scammers call, claiming you’ve won the sweepstakes – but, to collect your prize, you need to send money to pay for so-called fees and taxes.

  more...

DALLAS, TX—The FBI Dallas Field Office is seeking information regarding two unknown suspects, believed to be located in the greater Atlanta region, involved in an e-mail compromise scheme. The individuals each withdrew a significant amount of fraudulently obtained funds at SunTrust banks located in Forest Park and Tucker, Georgia. The stolen funds were obtained from Texas-based companies via e-mail compromise schemes and transferred to SunTrust Bank accounts.

On April 4, 2017, an unknown black male withdrew stolen funds from a SunTrust Bank in Forest Park Georgia. The man had long dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail, glasses, a goatee, and acne scarring on his right cheek. He wore a necklace with a white pendant and a Bluetooth headset around his neck. On his right wrist, the man wore a white bracelet with red lettering referring to the Bible verse Isaiah 54:17.   more...

“Together, we are working every day for the citizens of this country: protecting their safety, bringing back their jobs and, in all things, putting AMERICA FIRST.” – President Donald J. Trump

BRINGING ACCOUNTABILITY BACK TO GOVERNMENT: In six months in office, President Trump has followed through on his promise to the American people to bring accountability back to government.

President Trump fulfilled his promise to the American people by nominating and, after Senate confirmation, appointing Neil Gorsuch as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

President Trump implemented higher ethical standards to make sure his Administration works for the American people.
President Trump signed an Executive Order implementing tough new lobbying standards for political appointees, including a five-year ban on lobbying and a lifetime ban on lobbying for foreign countries.
President Trump has donated his salary, following through on his promise to the American people.
To make sure the Government serves the needs of all Americans, President Trump has called for a comprehensive plan to reorganize the executive branch and has used his budget to begin to implement his plan.
  more...

Largest Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action in Department of Justice History

Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price, M.D., announced the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, involving 412 charged defendants across 41 federal districts, including 115 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving approximately $1.3 billion in false billings. Of those charged, over 120 defendants, including doctors, were charged for their roles in prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics. Thirty state Medicaid Fraud Control Units also participated in today’s arrests. In addition, HHS has initiated suspension actions against 295 providers, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

  more...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has paid $1.65 million to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act when it knowingly submitted claims for reimbursement to California’s Medi‑Cal program that were not supported by applicable diagnosis and documentation requirements.

Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, operates over 290 retail stores in California; approximately 283 of these locations have pharmacies. The Medi-Cal program is administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and relies on both federal and state funding to provide health care to millions of Californians, including those with low incomes and disabilities.

  more...

FRESNO, Calif. — Seth Adam Depiano, 36, of Clovis, was arrested yesterday in Las Vegas and is charged in a criminal complaint with mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

According to court documents, Depiano operated a Ponzi scheme that lured real estate investors into giving to him and the businesses he controlled — including The Rental Group, U.S. Funding and Home Services LLC, and Draymond Homes — more than $20 million. Depiano fraudulently promised investors that he would use their money to purchase residential properties and either manage the properties for rental income or arrange for them to be renovated and resold.

  more...