Seven Long Island men charged in $20 million scheme

Seven men from Long Island, New York, face charges in a large money laundering scheme. Prosecutors say the men tricked over 1,800 victims across 45 states, resulting in losses of $20 million. Many of the victims are elderly. The suspects allegedly convinced victims to buy Home Depot and Lowe’s gift cards, claiming their personal information was misused. They pressured victims to buy large amounts of gift cards and share the codes. The fraudsters then used these gift cards to buy construction supplies, which they sold for a profit. Authorities report that the operation involved more than 6,000 fraudulent transactions, with many occurring in New York State. They recovered $100,000 in cash, luxury jewelry, and high-end bags from one suspect's car. All seven suspects pleaded not guilty and could face up to 15 years in prison. Law enforcement officials are warning the public about phone scams. They advise hanging up if someone claims to be from a government agency or bank and asks for money. Authorities continue to investigate the case, suspecting more people may be involved.