More than 100 individuals in the United States and 35 others in foreign nations have been arrested in a crackdown on telemarketing fraud that caused losses exceeding $1 billion, US officials said on Tuesday.
They said they uncovered bogus lottery, prize and sweepstakes schemes, offers of non-existent investments, bogus offers of "pre-approved" credit cards and employment and business opportunity swindles.
The officials said more than 5 million people were victims of the various schemes.
They said the initiative, dubbed "Operation Roaming Charge," began in January, has resulted so far in the conviction of 70 individuals in the United States, and is continuing. It involved over 100 separate investigations.
"No matter where fraudulent telemarketers roam to conduct their schemes, we will find them and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law," Assistant Attorney General Christopher Wray said in a statement.
More than 190 search warrants have been executed in the United States and Canada as part of the operation. Officials said the Spanish National Police made 14 arrests in that country in investigating fraudulent lottery schemes that operate from Spain.
The officials said authorities in Costa Rica, Nigeria, the Philippines and Britain also provided assistance.