Feds Nab Member of Transnational eBay Crime Ring

FBI says woman is part of "elaborate scheme" to defraud $350k

A woman involved in a crime ring to defraud eBayer users of more than $350,000 has been apprehended by the FBI. The Bureau says Mariyana Feliksova Lozanova is a Bulgarian member of a transnational criminal ring involved in an "elaborate scheme" designed to trick prospective buyers into wiring her money. She has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the Sharon Guadin writing for Information Week.

The woman, whose aliases include Gentiane La France and Naomi Elizabeth DeBont, allegedly conned prospective buyers on eBay into sending her money for major purchases, like motor vehicles and boats, that were never delivered, according to a release from the FBI, which investigated the case.

According to the FBI report, Lozanova and others in the "crime group" allegedly participated in a scheme to advertise the expensive merchandise for sale on eBay. When potential buyers from the United States showed an interest, they were contacted directly by e-mail from the purported seller. The victims were then instructed to wire transfer payments through eBay Secure Traders, which has no actual affiliation with eBay. The FBI contends it was a ruse to persuade the victims that they were sending money into a secure escrow account pending delivery and inspection of their purchases. Instead, the victims' funds were allegedly wired directly into one of several bank accounts, controlled by Lozanova and her co-conspirators, in Hungary or Slovakia.

If convicted, the woman faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy and 10 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy. In addition, she also could be required to pay fines totaling more than $500,000, as well as forfeitures and restitution to the victims of the scheme.

Scroll down for more on why auction fraud is now the #1 online crime.

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