U.S. Attorney’s Office and Law Enforcement Partners Hold Financial Crimes Conference to Combat Fraud in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah in coordination with the Financial Fraud Task Force, comprised of law enforcement throughout the state, hosted the annual Financial Crimes Conference yesterday. Financial institutions also participated in the conference as part of ongoing efforts to curb financial crimes in the Beehive State.

Fraud is on the rise in Utah. In the first two quarters of 2024, fraud cost Utah residents $55.2 million, compared to $36.4 million in 2023, $32.6 million in 2022, and $20.4 million in 2021 during the same two quarters, according to state data by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Additionally, Utah ranks 10 out of 15 states nationwide for imposter scams, according to the FTC. Imposter scams include scammers posing as a government agency, romance scams, a friend or relative with an emergency need for money.

"Working with our federal and state law enforcement partners and agencies, the United States Attorney's Office has significantly increased the number of financial crime prosecutions in this state," said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. "By prosecuting these cases and advocating for appropriate federal prison sentences, we are sending a clear message that Utah is not the place to conduct fraud schemes and victimize our citizens."

While the U.S. Attorney's Office collaborates with financial institutions throughout the year in conjunction with our federal partners, the conference brings all participating entities that handle financial crimes together for a day of collaborating and learning through presentations.

Prosecuting financial crimes is a priority for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Utah. Financial fraud ranges from phishing scams, identity theft, wire fraud, and cashier's check fraud to name a few. For example, in January 2024, a defendant was sentenced to 72 months' imprisonment for her involvement in an online romance scam that cost victims over $6 million. See release here. In February 2024, Salt Lake Trucking Group owners were found guilty in a financial fraud conspiracy that cost FedEx Ground $108 million. See release here. In August 2024, a Utah man was sentenced to 50 months' imprisonment after defrauding farmers out of $1.2 million.

If you or someone you know is a victim of a financial fraud, report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at https://www.ic3.gov/. You may also report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call the FTC's consumer Response Center at 877-382-4357.