Elderly Sweepstakes Scam Restitution - How to Protect Yourself

How to Pursue Restitution

• Criminal Restitution: When the Department of Justice (DOJ) or other federal agencies prosecute scam rings, judges frequently order defendants to pay restitution directly to identified victims. You do not typically need to file a separate lawsuit to qualify; however, you must be identified as a victim during the investigation.

• Asset Forfeiture: In major international or federal scam cases, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or federal prosecutors seize luxury homes, cars, and liquid cash from scammers. These forfeited assets are sometimes liquidated to create a victim compensation fund, where affected individuals receive a percentage of their lost funds.

• Victim Witness Assistance: If you or an elderly family member has fallen victim, contact the U.S. Attorney's Office Victim-Witness Program in your district. They provide updates on cases and handle the logistics of restitution payments if the scammers are prosecuted.

Critical Steps to Take Immediately

• Contact Your Bank: If the victim recently wired money or sent a check, immediately ask the financial institution to initiate a "recall" or trace the wire transfer.

• Freeze Credit: Scammers may sell the victim's personal information. Contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to place a freeze on the victim's credit reports to prevent identity theft.

Where to Report Scams

Reporting a scam does not guarantee immediate restitution, but it triggers federal investigations that are necessary to seize scammers' assets and generate future restitution funds.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Report the fraud online at the FTC Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): For scams originating online or internationally, file a report on the FBI IC3 portal.

• U.S. Postal Inspection Service: If the scammers used the mail, report the incident via the USPIS Mail Fraud Complaint system.

Watch Out for Scams About Restitution

Be highly skeptical of third-party services, lawyers, or fake government entities that reach out claiming they can recover your lost money for an "upfront fee". Legitimate government agencies and victim funds will never demand money to distribute restitution or recover your losses.