he US Department of Justice (DOJ) swept up more than 400 defendants for committing fraud against elder citizens this month. The sweep crossed international boundaries as DOJ attacked fraud against elders conducted by “transnational criminal organizations.” The sweep is part of DOJ’s overall attack against the five subtypes of elder abuse.
In order to highlight its importance, the sweep against elder fraud is an annual event. Results of the 2020 sweep exceeded those of the March 2019 sweep which involved approximately 260 defendants. This year the sweep grew by more than 50% and targeted loss of nearly $1 billion.