Update: New Martinsville Ponzi scheme perpetrator sentenced to 10+ years

The perpetrator of a massive Ponzi scheme in Wetzel County WV has been sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison. Over 800 victims lost over $30 million in the mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering scheme we reported here in March 2016 http://seniorlegalaid.blogspot.com/2016/03/budget-finance-in-new-martinsville-in.html

Unfortunately most victims will never get much if any of their money back. For more information about the sentencing see www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2017/01/woman-sentenced-in-wetzel-county-budget-finance-ponzi-scheme/

Jury Duty Fine Telephone Scam

West Virginians beware of a call saying you owe a fine for failing to appear for jury duty, and threatening jail if you don't pay by money order. Such scam has recently been reported in the Huntington area.

Any government agency, state or federal, is unlikely to ever deliver any information about fines or fees by telephone. If you ever receive a call from a government agency you can ask for the information to be sent to you by mail. Caller ID is easily faked, so don't rely on that as credible.

When seniors tell other seniors about scams they have heard about it helps everyone in the community to recognize scams more readily and avoid them. If you tell two friends, and they tell two friends, etc.

For more information about the jury duty scam check out this article from WCHS Channel 8 http://wchstv.com/news/local/old-phone-scam-is-using-a-new-twist.