A group of more than 300 individuals paid a trio of scammers more than $200,000 in fake debts, according to an charges that were read during an initial appearance today in a federal courthouse in Georgia.
The three individuals — Alex Plumb, a U.K. native of the United Kingdom and Georgia residents Jennifer Smith and Derron Washington — were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 11 counts of wire fraud.
During a nine-month period ending in May 2016, the three purchased lists of names of individuals that included birth dates, Social Security numbers, and mailing addresses. Those individuals were contacted by the Georgia call center operated by the three alleged masterminds. To coerce a payment, the individuals were told they would be taken to court if a payment was not made. Those individuals that agreed to make a payment were then transferred to one of the three scammers to take the payment information.
Plumb, Smith, and Washington remain free on bail although they have been ordered not to be involved with any job that provides them access to anyone’s personal or credit information. They are facing up to 20 years in prison for each count of their indictment.
