Upcoming Fraud Conference In Fort Myers To Arm Consumers With Information To Protect Themselves From Fraud Schemes

            Fort Myers, FL - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that his office, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Reserve Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the United States Postal Service, and the United States Secret Service will host a fraud conference for the general public on Thursday, March 14, 2013, (10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). The conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers, Bell Tower Shops, located at 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33907.  Admission and parking are free.          

            Investor fraud, tax fraud, and healthcare fraud are serious national problems.  Our country's recent financial crisis has resulted in an unprecedented rise in investment fraud schemes, tax fraud, and other financial crimes, involving thousands of victims and staggering losses.  Southwest Florida has been at the epicenter of the economic crisis and the number of financial crimes committed against the members of our community is rising at an alarming rate.  The United States Attorney's Office and its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners are hosting this conference to educate the public about the fraudulent schemes that are being perpetrated in our region and to provide information on resources and strategies to protect citizens from becoming a victim of these types of crime.

            Members of the public and media are invited to attend all sessions of the conference.  Participants are also welcome to attend individual sessions.  Admission to the conference is free and educational materials will be provided.  For more information, contact Brenda Halberg at (239) 461-2200.

            This conference is part of the ongoing efforts of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force which was created by President Obama in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.

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