US Postal Service fraud scheme involved nearly $5M in losses, more than 80 charged

More than 80 people have been charged in a mail scheme in which checks were stolen from the mail, totaling nearly $5 million in losses, authorities said.

"The suspects would swiftly withdraw the money before the financial institutions discovered the checks were forged," he said during a news briefing to announce the charges. "This investigation identified hundreds of victims across California." Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.

The ringleaders behind the operation recruited people on social media to open bank accounts or use their own accounts to deposit the fraudulent checks, authorities said. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said two street gangs were involved in the scheme.