Mystery surrounds why the US Justice Department in Washington is seeking the help of authorities in Bermuda in two investigations.

The Attorney General's Chambers (AG) has filed two writs saying the Justice Department is seeking help from Bermuda in investigations into the Trump Financial Group and the Sheffield Group under the Criminal Justice Bermuda (International Cooperation) Act 1994.

The Justice Department also wants help from Bermuda authorities under the same Act regarding "Robin Hansson and others".

The AG's Chambers is refusing to comment and Bermuda Police will only say: "We were acting as agents of the Crown in serving subpoenas in these matters."

A Police spokesman said the AG's chambers is the proper source of information on these matters.

The Justice Department in Washington said there was no record of these complaints in the civil section, and the criminal side of the department has been unable to provide The Royal Gazette with any information about the writs despite several calls.

The Registrar of Companies in Bermuda has no record of Robin Hansson, the Trump Financial Group or the Sheffield Group.

An Internet search, however, revealed that a Robin Hansson in New York is allegedly behind a mailing scam which has supposedly netted her $500,000 in a three-month period.

The West Australian newspaper reported in March this year that Hansson "is behind at least 13 scams with mailing addresses in Australia, Canada and Britain.

"Ms Hansson and her cohorts con money from consumers with promises of cash prizes, gems and goods under at least 13 `business' addresses.

"The `businesses' send letters to consumers claiming they are entitled to a cash prize, goods or gems if they pay a release fee of $20 to $50. Consumers receive little or nothing in return."

The newspaper said the Australian Department of Consumer Protection is planning national action to combat the scam and is putting pressure on US authorities to "close the operation".

In 1998, the "Trump Financial Group Corporation" and its agent were fined $40,000 each by the state of Indiana after an unlicensed person sold unregistered securities and violated state anti-fraud laws.

A press release from Indiana Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy stated: "According to the Securities Division (of her office), Trump's agent represented that an initial investment in the foreign exchange market of $10,000 `would get back $312,250 in a short time'.

"In addition to the fines, both Trump and its agent were permanently barred from the securities industry and ordered to cease and desist from violating Indiana's securities laws."

Gilroy said: "The brazen disregard that these swindlers have for the laws passed by our legislature to protect Hoosier investors is demonstrated by the fact that they did not even respond to the charges filed against them.

"These financial predators will stop at nothing in their attempts to cheat innocent investors out of their hard earned savings through corrupt telemarketing and advertising campaigns."

Gilroy's office did not respond to calls from The Royal Gazette seeking further information about the Trump Financial Group.