Indictments in US District Court in New York revealed a traditional fraud operation, operated by Latvian and Lithuanian fraudsters, that tricked victims into sending deposits, and later shipping fees, that they believed were payments for rare and classic automobiles which the defendants never owned. The FBI Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force appears to have been the lead agency; a number o the defendants were detained in Latvia & Lithuania, and extradited to New York.
The fraudsters reportedly impersonated classic car sales companies, and collectors; in addition to accepting payments for vehicles that they never owned, and had no intention of delivering, they drained the victims' bank accounts, once they had learned about their location from payments made to them. Some victims had taken out bank loans to pay for the cars, and were obligated to repay them.
The defendants were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud. Readers who require the names of the defendants may access them here. You may also download the indictments at that site.
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