A federal indictment in Providence, Rhode Island, has charged eight individuals for their involvement in a transnational fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly citizens in the United States and Canada. The investigation, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), identified around 300 victims across at least 37 states with known losses exceeding $5 million. Investigators also uncovered a bank account through which approximately $16 million in suspected fraud funds were laundered.
The charging documents reveal that the conspiracy involved sending pop-up messages to seniors' computers, falsely appearing as communications from well-known technology companies. These messages claimed that victims' financial accounts were compromised or that they were targets of criminal investigations. Victims were directed to call a "live agent" who falsely informed them that their assets were at risk but could be protected.
Victims were then connected with others posing as representatives of financial institutions or government agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Reserve Bank. They were instructed to transfer funds via wire transfers or cryptocurrency to accounts controlled by the scammers or withdraw cash and purchase gold bars for transfer to a purported government courier.
The individuals charged include Nanjun Song of Brooklyn, New York; Jirui Liu of Scarborough, Ontario; Xiang Li of Flushing, New York; Xuehai Sun of Flushing, New York; Fangzheng Wang of Westborough, Massachusetts; Cynthia Jia Sun of Houston, Texas; Zhenyang Xin of Hamilton, Ontario; and Wing Kit Ho of Markham, Ontario. Arrests have been made for several defendants while warrants have been issued for others.
"A federal indictment is merely an accusation," the statement clarifies. "A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."
The investigation was conducted by HSI Providence and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation with support from various regional law enforcement agencies including HSI offices in New England, New York, Houston, Los Angeles, as well as local police departments.
This operation is part of the Rhode Island Homeland Security Task Force's efforts to disrupt significant criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, gangs, and other transnational crimes.
