Canadian Woman Sentenced for Telemarketing Fraud

CONCORD, NH—Today, Deborah Wasserman, 53, of Montreal, Canada, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from a telemarketing scheme originating in Canada and targeted towards United States citizens. Wasserman is to report to the Bureau of Prisons on February 6, 2009.

The prosecution began on October 2, 2002, when a grand jury for the District of New Hampshire indicted 15 Canadian citizens in connection with a nationwide telemarketing fraud targeted at the elderly. Nine defendants have been sentenced to federal prison serving sentences that range from 10 years to six months. A leader of the organization is incarcerated in France awaiting extradition. Another manager of the group is a fugitive.

United States Attorney Colantuono stated: “Telemarketing fraud is a serious crime that warrants federal prosecution. The best way to fight telemarketing fraud is for citizens to be careful. No citizen should ever send money by mail or wire to a person or business unless the citizen knows the person or business or has initiated contact with that person or business. The telemarketers that created this fraud were professionals that were able to overcome the natural skepticism of the victims. My office is dedicated to finding and prosecuting these fraudsters, but the best way to prevent fraud is to not allow yourself to be a victim. If you receive one of these calls, just ask yourself: Is this too good to be true? If the answer is yes, then hang up the phone.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and other agencies belonging to the Project Colt investigative team in Montreal.