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Victoria Crosby, 46, pleaded guilty to wire fraud Thursday before U.S. Judge Robert Kugler. She is scheduled to be sentenced March 28, 2024.

According to prior court documents, Crosby, who was charged in June 2021, used prepaid cellphones to contact victims, many of whom were over the age of 70, whose spouses or family members had recently died.

Crosby would use a false name and pretend to be an employee of either a retirement benefit office or life insurance company.

She told the victims the life insurance policy of their deceased family member was in arrears and that to correct the underpayment, the victims needed to pay thousands of dollars with prepaid credit cards.

The victims were instructed to purchase prepaid credit cards from different retailers and provide the caller with the 10-digit codes on the back. The money was loaded onto the cards at the time of purchase and linked to an online account.

Once Crosby had the 10-digit code, she took over the account and transferred the money into her own accounts. 

Surveillance footage obtained by police showed Crosby withdrawing the funds from ATMs in Atlantic City, Brigantine and Absecon.

While Crosby was involved in the fraud scheme, she was receiving benefits from Social Security and Medicaid. She also was living in public housing in Atlantic City and receiving federal housing assistance, according to a news release.

Between January and December 2020, Crosby received $110,380 in her bank account, which should have made her ineligible for SSI, Medicaid and HUD benefits.

Wire fraud carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater.