Hartford Man Indicted For Scamming Seniors: Feds

MADISON, WISC./HARTFORD, CT – A 26-year-old Hartford man has been indicted in connection with a Wisconsin phone scam that targeted elderly people in an attempt to get money.

In an indictment returned Thursday by a federal grand jury in Madison, Wisc., Matthew Ramos-Soto, 26, of Hartford, CT, was charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud.

The indictment was announced Thursday by Timothy M. O’Shea, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Hensle.

The indictment charges Ramos-Soto with conspiring with others to defraud Wisconsin residents.

The indictment alleges that, from October 24-28, 2022, unknown conspirators contacted elderly individuals by telephone and falsely represented a relative had been arrested following an accident and money for bail was needed.

The indictment further alleges that Ramos-Soto and his co-conspirators traveled throughout Wisconsin to pick up cash in person from the targeted individuals.

“Elder fraud is a serious issue, and we’re committed to combating it,” said Kaul. “Thank you to those in Wisconsin DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation and the other public safety professionals whose work led to this charge.”

“Unfortunately, scams targeting the elderly or vulnerable are proliferating. If someone demands money over the phone or internet, always reach out to a trusted advisor, law enforcement agency, or the fraud hotlines described below,” said O’Shea.

The indictment alleges co-conspirators impersonated attorneys or judges and provided victims with false file or case numbers.

Victims were instructed to go to their financial institutions to withdraw the needed money in cash and to provide a false reason for the withdrawal to their financial institution, authorities said.

The indictment alleges Ramos-Soto and his co-conspirators obtained approximately $200,000 during the five days of the conspiracy in October 2022.

Ramos-Soto is in custody in Michigan. A date for his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Madison, Wisc., has not been set.

If convicted, Ramos-Soto faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

For the full U.S. Attorney General's Office announcement, click on this link.