SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Federal authorities say a YouTube duo and a fellow content creator helped bring down a $65 million international fraud ring that scammed thousands of seniors, including a San Diego woman who lost her entire life savings.
More than two dozen people were arrested in California, New York, Texas and Michigan after investigators dismantled the scheme, which had been operating since 2019. Prosecutors say the scam originated from India-based call centers posing as government officials, bank employees or tech support agents. Victims were tricked into sending cash, often through packages, to Chinese nationals living legally in the United States.
Among the victims was a 97-year-old widow of a Holocaust survivor in San Diego who was repeatedly targeted until she had lost everything, said Kevin Mokhtari, chief of the Southern Division of the U.S. attorney’s office.
The investigation received an unusual boost from YouTubers Ashton Bingham and Art Kulik of Trilogy Media, along with another creator known as Pierogi from the channel “Scammer Payback.” The three men have gained large followings for recording their encounters with fraudsters, often posing as victims and then confronting so-called “money mules” who attempted to collect packages of cash.
“It was kind of this perfect marriage of us already wanting to entertain people and also serving a good purpose,” Bingham said. “Something we didn’t know was such a big issue has only gotten worse over time.”
Authorities say their videos documenting scammers in action caught the attention of federal investigators and provided valuable evidence.
“You have to be a special piece of crap human being to rob an elderly person,” Kulik said. “To go to grandmother and grandfather and take their retirement account — that’s beyond low.”
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon praised the YouTubers’ contributions, saying, “Not all heroes wear capes — some have YouTube channels.”
So far, investigators have identified more than 2,000 victims but believe the true number is higher.
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