Latest news with #Trickle
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nevada woman, 80, pleads guilty in lottery scam case that defrauded ‘vulnerable' victims of more than $15M
An 80-year-old Nevada woman, Barbara Trickle, pled guilty on April 28 to running a years-long lottery scam in federal court that defrauded victims of more than $15 million, according to the U.S. Office of Public Affairs (PAO). Trickle and two others stand accused of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, a crime which 8 News Now says carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, plus a minimum fine of $250,000. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Trickle and her accomplices allegedly mailed millions of fake prize notices to potential victims from 2012 to 2018. Recipients were told that they would receive a large cash prize if they paid a fee between $20 and $50, according to court documents. The three scammers were accused of their crime in 2023 as a result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). 'The defendant and her co-conspirators used the promise of sweepstakes winnings to defraud the most vulnerable members in our communities,' said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the service's Criminal Investigations Group during the case, according to PAO. '[We] will continue to aggressively investigate mass-mailing schemes and other types of fraud to protect older Americans from financial exploitation and bring criminals to justice.' While Trickle's scheme targeted individuals of all ages and backgrounds, prosecutors say that many of the victims were older adults. Trickle was the owner of a printing and mailing business, and supervised the lasering, printing and mailing of the fraudulent prize notices — even directing her employees to collect and analyze data to improve the response rate of victims. Once a victim replied to the scheme with the $20 to $50 fee, they received a 'report' describing sweepstakes opportunities, or what the PAO report described as 'a trinket of minimal value.' Any respondents were 'inundated' with additional mailers in the hopes of extracting more money. But none of the victims were ever paid the prize that was promised. In 2018, the USPIS executed multiple search warrants and the Department of Justice (DOJ) obtained a court order to shut down Trickle's fraudulent operations. 'The Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Branch is committed to protecting elderly consumers from fraudulent mass-mailing schemes,' said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department's Civil Division, according to the PAO press release. 'We are grateful to the Postal Inspection Service for their thorough investigation in this matter.' Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis Believe it or not, scams like this are common, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reporting that seniors are losing more than $3 billion annually to elder fraud. But there are a number of government supports in place to help seniors who have been victims of scams. The Office for Victims of Crime manages a National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11, open to all Americans aged 60 and older who have been a victim of financial fraud. Case managers will help victims by recommending appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to victims that will assist them in reporting and connect them directly with appropriate agencies. The service is also available in multiple languages. The DOJ also maintains an Elder Justice Initiative, and complaints may also be filed online. Finally, be sure to educate yourself about the types of scams that fraudsters use to target older adults, and check in with friends and family before you reply to any mail-based or online messages that look too good to be true. If the offer is high-pressure or time-sensitive, that's often a sign that it's a scam you'll want to avoid. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Las Vegas woman pleads guilty in prize scam involving millions
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A woman pleaded guilty Monday to producing mailings as part of a scheme that defrauded thousands of Americans, many of them elderly, prosecutors said. Barbara Trickle, 80, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, documents said. In 2023, federal prosecutors accused Trickle and two others of mailing millions of phony prize notices from 2012 to 2018. The mailer indicated that the person would receive a large cash prize if they paid a fee between $20 and $50, documents said. '[Trickle] was the owner and operator of a printing and mailing business that produced the fraudulent prize notice mailings for the scheme,' documents said. 'Trickle supervised the lasering, printing, and mailing of the fraudulent prize notices. She also directed her employees to analyze victim response data in furtherance of the scheme. Trickle was paid by her co-conspirators for these services.' The loss to victims totaled about $15.5 million, prosecutors said, adding many were 'elderly and vulnerable.' It was not immediately clear how much prison time, if any, Trickle would face at sentencing. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a minimum fine of $250,000, prosecutors said in 2023. The government runs a National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
