The telemarketers allegedly lied to their victims/consumers by telling them that they are offering a price reduction on their existing magazine subscription. In reality, the victims/consumers had no existing subscription. The telemarketers were signing them up for new and expensive subscriptions.
A consumer with only one subscription ended up having more than a dozen subscriptions with different fraudulent magazine companies.
Additionally, the DOJ alleged that the defendants also used false “cancellation” scripts targeting consumers who were victims of the fraudulent magazine sale scam.
The defendants allegedly took advantage of the victim’s desperation to stop the magazine subscriptions. Using the cancellation scripts, the defendants falsely offered to consolidate and cancel their victims’ outstanding balance in exchange for lump-sum payments. In reality, the victims do not owe any balance and the defendants stole their money.
The largest elder fraud scheme
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald said, “This case represents the largest elder fraud scheme in the nation. More than 150,000 elderly and vulnerable victims across the United States have been identified in what is essentially a criminal class action.”
