Scheme

Former State Senator Convicted in Intricate “Ghost Candidate” Scheme That Swung 2020 Election

by

MIAMI — A former Republican state senator from Florida was convicted Monday of several charges related to a political maneuver in which he was accused of planting a so-called “ghost candidate” to sway a key 2020 Senate race. Frank Artiles faced accusations of masterminding a scheme intended to spoil the re-election chances of a Democratic incumbent by introducing a third-party candidate who shared the incumbent’s last name. The case centered on the District 37 race, where Alex Rodriguez, a no-party-affiliation candidate, entered the fray and unexpectedly garnered over 6,000 votes. Officials stated that Rodriguez’s involvement … Read more

Mumbai Lawyer Tricked into Cyber Blackmail Scheme, Forced to Pay Ransom Amid Privacy Violations

by

Mumbai, India — In a chilling incident that reflects the growing menace of cybercrime, a 36-year-old female lawyer from Mumbai fell prey to a complex online scam, resulting in severe personal and financial repercussions. The incident, which unfolded at a local hotel, involved her being manipulated into undressing by scammers who subsequently extorted money by threatening her with the images they captured. The sophisticated scam began when the lawyer was contacted through a deceptive email. Purporting to be from a legitimate source, it lured her to a nearby hotel under the pretense of a professional … Read more

SEC Charges Florida Father-Son Duo with Operating Deceptive Litigation Finance Scheme

by

Washington — Federal regulators implicated two Florida men, a father and son duo, in allegedly orchestrating a deceptive scheme involving litigation financing. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the charges on Friday, detailing how the pair promised significant returns to investors by funding mass tort litigation. According to the SEC, the suspects attracted investments by promoting their supposed expertise in identifying profitable legal cases, particularly those involving large groups of plaintiffs in product liability lawsuits. Investors were led to believe that their funds would be directly applied to cover legal fees and other … Read more

Business Instructor Guilty of Laundering Over $800K in Complex Email Fraud Scheme Targeting Churches and Businesses

by

Cedar Rapids, Iowa — A Pennsylvania woman has been convicted of orchestrating a sophisticated financial fraud scheme, diverting over $800,000 through hacked email accounts, including one from a Cedar Rapids church involved in a major renovation project. The scheme targeted various entities across the U.S., leading to significant financial losses. Margo Ann Williams, 62, of Scranton, faced charges in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, where she was found guilty of multiple counts including bank fraud, money laundering, and engaging in transactions with criminally derived property. The verdict followed a three-day … Read more