Three Indicted in $15.5M Sweepstake Fraud Targeting Elderly Victims

Three people have been indicted in a $15.5 million sweepstake fraud scheme. The trio charged are Kimberly Stamps, John Kyle Muller, and Barbara Trickle. The fraudulent scheme charged victims between $20 and $50 for non-existent high-value prizes. Stamps and Muller edited fake prize-notice letters and processed payments. Barbara Trickle was responsible for the mass-mailing and data management.

The scheme violated a 2012 cease-and-desist deal with the US Postal Service.

Inspector-in-Charge Eric Shen of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group stated, “Today’s indictment reflects the commitment of Postal Inspectors to protect older Americans from scams that prey on the vulnerable.”