Vermont at the Center of Takedown of Massive Cross-Border ‘Grandparent Scam’
U.S. Attorney's Office in Burlington leads prosecution of multi-million dollar fraud ring that targeted seniors, including those in the Green Mountain State.
Vermont has been placed at the forefront of a major international criminal investigation, as federal prosecutors in Burlington are leading the charge against a sophisticated "grandparent scam" that allegedly stole more than $21 million from elderly Americans. The case, detailed in press releases from the U.S. Department of Justice, highlights both the vulnerability of Vermonters to these predatory schemes and the crucial role our state's legal system is playing in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The sprawling investigation culminated in early July with the arrest of Gareth West, 38, an Ontario man. According to reporting from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), West styled himself as a flashy real estate developer and fitness influencer on social media. U.S. authorities allege he was, in fact, the ringleader of a criminal network of 25 Canadian nationals. News of his arrest was first reported by the Montreal Gazette.
While the full scope of the fraud within Vermont is not yet public, the decision by the Department of Justice to have the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont spearhead the prosecution and file the indictment in Burlington's federal court, as detailed in court documents, strongly indicates that a number of Vermonters were targeted and victimized by this extensive operation.
How the Scam Devastated Families
The federal indictment outlines a cruelly effective formula that has become all too common. From 2021 to 2024, members of the ring would place unsolicited calls to seniors in the U.S. Posing as a grandchild, niece, or nephew, the caller would create a frantic sense of emergency, often claiming to have been arrested after a car accident and needing thousands of dollars for bail.
To make the ruse more convincing, charging documents state that a second fraudster would get on the line, posing as a lawyer or police officer who would reinforce the urgency and, critically, instruct the victim not to speak to anyone else, often citing a fake "gag order."
Victims were then directed to withdraw large sums of cash. In a brazen tactic that, as the Vermont Attorney General’s Office has previously warned local residents about, is a hallmark of this type of fraud, the fraudsters dispatched couriers directly to the victims' homes to pick up the cash. This money was then allegedly smuggled into Canada and laundered, sometimes using cryptocurrency, to hide its origins.
Vermont's Leading Role in Seeking Justice
The takedown was a joint effort, the Department of Justice press release confirmed, involving U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and their Canadian counterparts, including the Sûreté du Québec and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The leadership role of Vermont's U.S. Attorney's Office means that the legal battle to hold the 25 defendants accountable will be centered here. According to the Justice Department, prosecutors are seeking the extradition of the Canadian nationals to Vermont to face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, which carry penalties of up to 40 years in prison.
This case highlights a danger that Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark has repeatedly addressed. In consumer alerts posted to the office's website, Clark has warned Vermonters about the manipulative tactics scammers use to create a sense of urgency.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family: Four Key Steps
Based on guidance from the Vermont Attorney General's Office and federal authorities, here are four key steps to protect yourself:
Resist the Urge to Act Immediately. Scammers thrive on creating panic. The most powerful thing you can do is pause and take a breath.
Verify the Story. Hang up and call the family member in question on a known, trusted phone number to confirm their whereabouts and safety. If you can't reach them, call another trusted family member.
Never, Ever Give Cash to a Courier. Legitimate law enforcement agencies and court systems will never send a courier to your home to collect cash for bail. This is a tell-tale sign of a scam.
Report It. If you receive a suspicious call, report it immediately to the Vermont Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program at 1-800-649-2424, the official channel for such complaints in the state.