BBB Tip of the Week: Drug trafficking scam targets traveling seniors

Federal investigators say drug traffickers are preying on seniors by convincing them to travel abroad - often by covering travel expenses - and then tricking them into smuggling drugs across the border.

In February the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging and the Department of Homeland Security hosted a hearing concerning such a scam.

There are at least 145 victims who have fallen for the scam and a majority of them are senior citizens. These men and women were arrested by foreign governments for carrying a total of 272 kilograms of narcotics. The drugs ranged from methamphetamine, heroin and Ecstasy. At least 44 Americans are serving time overseas because of the scam.

During the hearing, victims and their families spoke up about how they were tricked into transporting narcotics to different countries.

Daniel Seibert, a 79-year-old from Arizona, sent in a video interview explaining how he was nearly tricked into smuggling drugs out of the country.

Seibert said he was contacted by email and then by telephone by someone claiming he had some unclaimed funds that were owed to him. However, before he could get the money he had to travel to the United Kingdom to pick up a package before traveling to Japan through Dubai to deliver the package to a banker who would give him his money.

Seibert said he didn’t think anything was wrong because he knew it was customary to give gifts after business transactions in Japan.

Fortunately for Seibert, authorities stopped him at the airport in Atlanta before he could commit the crime.

To help combat this problem, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has partnered with Customs and Border Patrol to create a joint operation known as “Operation Cocoon.” Since the operation’s inception, foreign authorities have arrested 15 individuals connected with criminal organizations. Additionally, ICE has prevented 16 seniors from becoming victims to this scam.

Better Business Bureau Northwest urges everyone to be wary if they are ever contacted about unclaimed funds either by email or phone. If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a scam, please call (855) 303-9470 or visit www.aging.senate.gove/fraud-hotline to report an incident.

Veronica Craker, BBB managing editor