US charges 16 over 'depraved' grandparent scams

US prosecutors charged 16 people for operating a sprawling transnational "grandparent" scam that targeted elderly Americans: call-center "openers" impersonated relatives in distress while "closers" posed as lawyers, police, or court staff to coerce victims into mailing cash or precious metals; couriers and money-transfers were used to move and launder proceeds (over $55M in assets moved via couriers was cited), and defendants face mail/wire fraud and money laundering counts with potential prison time and fines.