Two US-based mules arrested

[Dotti]

This is a good illustration of how acting as a mule can get you into serious trouble. At least one of the women involved in this case essentially considered herself safe, because she was never the one who asked for money--all she did was receive and transfer the money the scammers collected. In reality, it doesn't matter if you don't ask for a cent--if you are helping these thieves, you are still an accomplice, and you can be arrested and charged with some very serious crimes.

These mules appear in more than one topic victim report here at scamwarners, and one of them actually posted here at one point, claiming that she really worked for the military.


http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_20892031

A Brighton mother-daughter team stands accused of helping steal more than $1 million from hundreds of women in an elaborate, multinational online dating scam, according to an indictment announced Tuesday by Colorado Attorney General John Suthers.

Tracy Vasseur, 40, and her mother, Karen Vasseur, 73, face felony charges of racketeering, money laundering, forgery and theft. The elder Vasseur could face up to 172 years in prison if convicted. Her daughter could face up to 205 years.

For three years, the pair allegedly collected money from 374 women in more than 40 countries for unknown Nigerian bosses.

The scam allegedly worked like this:

Unknown agents would pose as male soldiers stationed in Afghanistan and strike up online romances through online dating sites, e-mail and social networks.

As time passed and the relationships progressed, these "soldiers" would ask for money purportedly to buy a satellite phone so the "couple" could talk or to pay for a visit to the unsuspecting paramour. The scammers sent photos and forged military documents to bolster their cases, according to authorities.

Some women gave tens of thousands of dollars, including an alleged victim in Great Britain who wired a fake soldier nearly $60,000.

That money was wired to Colorado, where the Vasseurs allegedly collected it, took their 10 percent and wired the remainder back to Nigeria, according to a Colorado state Grand Jury indictment handed down today.

Authorities believe the Vasseurs — who didn't solicit money from the alleged victims themselves — laundered their share through 20 personal accounts at local banks. The mother and daughter continued the activity even after being warned in 2011 by Brighton police, according to the indictment.

Tracy Vasseur bonded out of Adams County Jail on Monday. Karen Vasseur, remains in custody. The pair will be prosecuted in Adams County District Court.

Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com

[Teex29]

How disgusting and Pathetic of them.

[TheAlphaPro]

This is good to know though. That these petty crimes surely do not pay off!

[Bubbles]

Welcome TheAlphaPro, I think you missed the core of the report. This activity is not a "petty crime". These women are in serious trouble.

Tracy Vasseur, 40, and her mother, Karen Vasseur, 73, face felony charges of racketeering, money laundering, forgery and theft. The elder Vasseur could face up to 172 years in prison if convicted. Her daughter could face up to 205 years.

This is a warning to anyone who thinks that cooperating with a scammer as a mule is not a serious issue. Working for a scammer can put you in prison for the rest of your natural life.

This was also posted to encourage anyone who knows of a mule to notify the police because with the right evidence and in the right jurisdiction, the law is effective.

[TheAlphaPro]

^ I'm sorry I didn't mean it sound as it did, I meant it's a shame that other humans would have to go so low as to do illegal actions, I know how serious these crimes are.

And thanks for the welcome

[began steele]

You can read the full indictment here http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/m ... ctment.pdf
It shows the absolutely disgraceful conduct of these women who knew exactly what they were doing. It is obvious they were instrumental if inflicting not only serious financial losses to innocent women but instrumental in causing grief and suffering to their victims. They even helped their Nigerian paymasters in the making of fake profiles to scam yet more women. By any standards they deserve what I hope is coming to them and I hope they never get out of prison. As for the Nigerians, you can see the extent of these fellow criminals activities and the means the frauds were conducted. Now for what ever reason the police took a low key approach to the matter and yet with in Days if not hours for the two it was "business as usual". I for one, am proud of the work I do to help people avoid these activities, and equally as proud of what the rest of you do here as well. It is a hard job and some of my posts are long and demand careful research and take many hours. All time well spent and I am sure all of you here spend at least as equivalent a time on it. So for those of you who wish to see what was going on, do read the full .pdf file I have posted the link of.