International Cybercriminals Scam Seniors
International Cybercriminals Scam Seniors
In a transnational tech support scam targeting over 20,000 victims, many of whom were elderly, across the U.S. and Canada, six members of a criminal ring have been charged. The scheme involved tricking victims into believing their computers were infected with viruses and then convincing them to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for fake computer repair services. The fraud ring generated over $10 million in proceeds.
The defendants, Gagan Lamba, Harshad Madaan, Jayant Bhatia, Vikash Gupta, Meghna Kumar, and Kulwinder Singh, used fraudulent pop-up windows to freeze victims' computers and display false warnings about virus infections. Victims who called the provided phone numbers were connected to call centers in India, where fraud ring members repeated the false claims and offered to fix the issues for a fee. They would then remotely access the victims' computers, run an adblocker tool, and leave payment instructions.
Victims were instructed to pay via electronic check scans or physical checks sent to addresses maintained by Singh and Kumar in New Jersey. The fraud ring often contacted victims again to offer additional services, requiring them to pay even more money.
The defendants face various charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, computer fraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. U.S. authorities collaborated with Indian and Canadian law enforcement agencies in the investigation. The charges carry maximum penalties ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison and substantial fines.
SCAM MO's and Cases
- Using fraudulent pop-up windows to freeze victims' computers and display false warnings about virus infections.
- Directing victims to call a technical support phone number provided in the pop-up window.
- Connecting victims to call centers in India, where fraud ring members repeated false claims and offered to fix the issues for a fee.
- Remotely accessing victims' computers, running an adblocker tool, and leaving payment instructions.
- Instructing victims to pay via electronic check scans or physical checks sent to addresses maintained by the fraud ring members.
- Contacting victims again to offer additional services, requiring them to pay even more money.
Specific Cases:
- 1. Jiaci Liu's case:
- - Liu arrived at a 63-year-old victim's residence in Poway to collect $28,000 after the victim was duped by a tech support, bank impersonation, and government impersonation scam.
- - The victim was instructed to withdraw all his money from the bank for safekeeping and that someone from the U.S. Marshals Service would pick it up.
- - Liu's cellphone contained evidence indicating that he had picked up over $348,000 from multiple victims in Southern California and Phoenix, Arizona in just one week in June 2023.
- 2. Transnational tech support scam case:
- - Six members of a criminal ring (Gagan Lamba, Harshad Madaan, Jayant Bhatia, Vikash Gupta, Meghna Kumar, and Kulwinder Singh) were charged for their involvement in a tech support fraud scheme targeting over 20,000 victims, many of whom were elderly, across the U.S. and Canada.
- - The fraud ring generated more than $10 million in proceeds from the victims.
- - Madaan and Gupta were arrested in India, Bhatia was arrested in Canada, Singh was arrested in New York, and Kumar pleaded guilty in New Jersey. Lamba remains at large.
- 3. California residents' case (mentioned in the "Elder scams in the news" section):
- - Two California residents were indicted in a multimillion-dollar tech-support scam that targeted elderly victims.
- - The men posed as officials with technology companies and sent pop-up messages stating that the victims' financial accounts had been accessed and that the money needed to be moved.
- - One victim was tricked into liquidating retirement accounts totaling more than $1.2 million.
- - The two con artists were arrested in April 2022 and indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 833-372-8311.
This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims
of Crime, is staffed by experienced professional who provide
personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and
identifying next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate
reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in
reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and
referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a
week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. [ET]. English, Spanish and other
languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder
justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov
Senior Actions to Avoid Being Victims
Red Flags:
- Pop-up messages or ads from unknown sources claiming that your computer is infected with a virus or malware.
- Callers claiming to be from well-known tech companies or government agencies asking for personal information or money.
- Pressure to make immediate payments or provide sensitive information over the phone or online.
- Requests to send money via wire transfer, gift cards, or other untraceable methods.
- Unsolicited offers for free or discounted tech support services or anti-virus software.
Precautionary Measures:
- Never click on links or call phone numbers provided in unsolicited pop-up messages or emails.
- Keep your computer's operating system, antivirus software, and other programs up to date.
- Be cautious when providing personal information or granting remote access to your computer.
- Verify the legitimacy of any unsolicited contact by reaching out to the company or agency directly through their official website or phone number.
- Consult with a trusted family member, friend, or local tech support professional before making any payments or decisions regarding your computer's security.
- Report any suspected scams to the proper authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), or local law enforcement.
- Educate yourself and stay informed about the latest scams and fraud tactics targeting seniors.
- Use strong, unique passwords for all online accounts and enable two-factor authentication when available. Use a password manager.
- Regularly back up your important files and data to an external hard drive or secure cloud storage service. Use a backup service
- If you suspect that you've fallen victim to a scam, immediately contact your bank, credit card company, and relevant authorities to report the incident and minimize potential losses.
CA man charged in computer virus scams targeting seniors
By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–A California man targeting seniors in a computer virus scam was arrested by authorities this week in Poway.
Jiaci Liu, 34, a resident of Monterey Park, appeared in federal court following his arrest for engaging in a multinational wire fraud conspiracy targeting seniors, including a 63-year-old man from Poway.
According to a federal complaint, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force (ETJF) learned of the fraud scheme after the victim reported to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department that he was duped as part of layered tech support, bank impersonation, and government impersonation scam.
While on his personal computer, a pop-up window appeared indicating a possible virus on his computer and instructing him to contact a phone number. When he contacted the number, he was transferred through a series of co-conspirators pretending to work in tech support. The victim was informed that his computer had viruses. The victim was then transferred to another conspirator who claimed to be from the victim’s bank. During that interaction, the victim was told there were unauthorized transfers from his bank. The victim was instructed to go immediately to his bank and to withdraw all his money for safekeeping.
At the direction of the conspirators, the victim went to his bank and withdrew $28,000. The victim was then instructed by the conspirators that someone from the U.S. Marshals Service would come to his house to pick up the money. After the interaction, the victim became suspicious and contacted the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, which informed the victim to contact them if anyone showed up to pick up the money.
According to the complaint, on June 9, 2023, defendant Jiaci Liu arrived at the victim’s residence. The victim called the police, who arrived and found Liu outside the victim’s home. Liu’s cell phone was seized and later searched. Investigators located evidence indicating that in just one week in June 2023, Liu had picked up over 348,000 dollars from multiple victims in Southern California, and Phoenix, Arizona.
“Everyone with a computer is vulnerable to sophisticated scams like the one alleged in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “If you think you’ve been targeted, report it quickly. The faster the report comes in, the more likely we are to catch the scammers and recover any swindled money.”
“Individuals committing tech scams are getting more and more innovative with the methods they use to con innocent people,” said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Houtan Moshrefi. “The FBI and its law enforcement partners continually adapt our strategies so that we can stay ahead of those who scheme and collude to defraud the American public. We are committed to ensuring each of these individuals is brought to justice.”
A detention hearing was held on May 24 before the U.S. Magistrate Judge David Leshner.
If convicted on all charges, Liu could receive the maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $1 million fine
The case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
Man Charged in Scams Targeting Seniors
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 22, 2024
SAN DIEGO – Jiaci Liu appeared in federal court today following his arrest for engaging in a multinational fraud conspiracy targeting seniors, including a 63-year-old man from Poway.
According to a federal complaint, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force (ETJF) learned of the fraud scheme after the victim reported to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department that he been duped as part of a layered tech support, bank impersonation and government impersonation scam.
Specifically, while on his personal computer, a pop-up window appeared indicating there was a possible virus on his computer and instructing him to contact a phone number. When he contacted the number, he was transferred through a series of co-conspirators pretending to work in tech support. The victim was informed that his computer had viruses. The victim was then transferred to another conspirator who claimed to be from the victim’s bank. During that interaction, the victim was told there were unauthorized transfers from his bank. The victim was instructed to go immediately to his bank and to withdraw all his money for safekeeping.
At the direction of the conspirators, the victim went to his bank and withdrew $28,000. The victim was then instructed by the conspirators that someone from the U.S. Marshals Service would come to his house to pick up the money. After the interaction, the victim became suspicious and contacted the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, which informed the victim to contact them if anyone showed up to pick up the money.
According to the complaint, on June 9, 2023, defendant Jiaci Liu arrived at the victim’s residence. The victim called the police, who arrived and found Liu outside the victim’s home. Liu’s cellphone was seized and later searched. Investigators located evidence indicating that in just one week in June 2023, Liu had picked up over $348,000 dollars from multiple victims located in Southern California and Phoenix, Arizona.
“Everyone with a computer is vulnerable to sophisticated scams like the one alleged in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “If you think you’ve been targeted, report it quickly. The faster the report comes in, the more likely we are to catch the scammers and recover any swindled money.”
“Individuals committing tech scams are getting more and more innovative with the methods they use to con innocent people,” said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Houtan Moshrefi. “The FBI and its law enforcement partners continually adapt our strategies so that we can stay ahead of those who scheme and collude to defraud the American public. We are committed to ensuring each of these individuals is brought to justice.”
A detention hearing is scheduled for May 24, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge David D. Leshner.
This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24MJ1929-MSB
Jiaci Liu Age: 34 Monterey Park, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Criminal Forfeiture – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(2)(A), and Title 28, U.S.C., Section 2461(c)
Maximum Penalties: Thirty years in prison; $1 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
San Diego Police Department
San Diego Elder Justice Task Force
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Elderly scams: Scammers target seniors, and tech makes it easier
Published: August 24, 2022
Pop-up ads tricking senior citizens into sending their bank account information to scam artists. Fake social media romances that end up with elderly victims sending criminals hundreds of dollars. And scam online storefronts that exist to steal the dollars or financial information of older victims. These are all examples of elderly scams.
Criminals have targeted seniors for years, all with the goal of scamming the elderly out of the dollars they’ve saved. Unfortunately, the internet, online banking, and social media all make it easier for these schemers to carry out their elderly scams.
Fortunately, you can help protect yourself against these scammers. It’s all about recognizing the most common types of elderly scams and recognizing when a criminal is using one to try to steal your bank account information, passwords, or credit card numbers, or otherwise trying to separate you from your money.
Elder scams in the news
Elder scams have made headlines. Consider a May, 2022, report from the U.S. Department of Justice on two California residents who were indicted in a multimillion-dollar tech-support scam that targeted elderly victims.
According to the indictment, thetwo men posed as officials with technology companies and contacted victims on their computers, sending pop-up messages stating that these victims' financial accounts had been accessed and that the dollars in them needed to be moved.
Some victims sent money to these criminals. Others gave them their personally identifiable information, information such as their Social Security numbers, birthdates, and addresses. The two criminals used this information to open financial accounts and create email addresses that allowed them to receive and move the dollars they stole through this scheme.
How serious were these crimes? According to the indictment, one victim was tricked into liquidating retirement accounts totaling more than $1.2 million.
The two con artists were arrested in April of 2022 and have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
This is far from the only elderly scam relying on technology. Senior citizens, like everyone, must be aware of the scams targeting them if they hope to avoid falling prey to cybercriminals.
Common elderly scams
Fraudsters have devised several ways to scam elderly victims. Here are some of the more popular.
The Medicare scam
Because so many seniors are on Medicare, it's not surprising that scammers would use this to try to steal the personal and financial information of older residents.
Often, cybercriminals will send email messages or texts to seniors in which they claim to representatives from Medicare. The messages might state that the victims need a new Medicare card or that they are eligible for additional coverage at a steep discount.
All the victims need to do? Provide the senders their medical and personal information.
The criminals behind this ploy can then sell this personal information on the dark web. Or they can use the information to apply for credit cards or loans in the names of the victims they've scammed.
Other messages might state that you are eligible for free medical services and devices. All you need to do is provide your Medicare information. When you do? The products don't arrive, and the scammers sell or use your medical information.
How to avoid this scam: The best way to avoid this crime? Don't engage with any emails or texts supposedly sent from Medicare asking for your Medicare number or other personal information. No legitimate representative with Medicare will ask for this information. And never give anyone you don't know your Medicare number.
The online shopping scam
There was a time when older Americans were less likely to shop online. That has changed, with customers of all ages turning to the internet to buy everything from electronics and shoes to restaurant meals, groceries, and outdoor furniture. But with this convenience comes the risk of online shopping scams.
In this scam, criminals create online storefronts that don't sell any actual products. Instead, they are ways to trick victims -- often elderly ones -- into sending their credit card information.
Craigslist scams and other marketplace scams work by getting people to send them money by wire transfer for products that don’t exist.
Once victims provide this information, scammers use it to run up fraudulent purchases on the credit cards of their targets. And the products that victims order never come.
How to avoid this scam: Be careful where you shop online. It's best to stick to brands you recognize such as Amazon, Target, and Walmart. If you are shopping at a site that is new to you, run a Google search for reviews. You might find that others have been scammed by the same site. Look, too, for unusually low prices. If every other site is selling that window air conditioner for $250 and the site you are visiting is selling it for $90? The site might be run by a scammer.
Tech support scams
You might be browsing the web when a pop-up ad appears on your screen warning you that your device has been infected by a virus. The ad recommends that you click on a link to install antivirus software to remove the malware. Or maybe it contains a number to reach a tech support person to help.
This is a scam. In most cases, your computer isn't infected. But if you click the link included in the pop-up ad? You'll flood your device with malware. Criminals can then use this malware to spy on your online activity, including the messages you send and the keystrokes you use when logging onto your online bank account or credit card portal.
If you call the tech-support number? That's a scam, too. The person on the other end of your conversation might trick you into giving them control of your computer or sending them your credit card or bank account information. They might suggest that you need to pay for additional virus protection. When you do, you either receive no new software or the "protection" you do receive is ineffective.
How to avoid this scam: Delete those pop-up ads immediately. Legitimate tech companies don't rely on pop-ups to protect consumers or advertise their products. And never click on links in these ads or call the numbers included with them.
Lottery scams
Winning the lottery sounds like a dream. Scammers know this, which is why they often use the lure of a big sweepstakes win to scam the elderly.
You might receive an email or text message saying you won the Mega Millions jackpot, the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, or some other giveaway. To collect your winnings, you'll need to cover a processing fee that you can wire or mail directly to the lottery's organizers.
You know the rest: You send that payment and your lottery winnings never arrive because they weren't real.
How to avoid this scam: Legitimate lotteries or sweepstakes never require that you pay upfront to receive your winnings. If you get an email or text requesting a payment to receive lottery winnings, delete it. It's a sure scam. And if you don't remember playing a lottery or sweepstakes? Then that email saying you've won is surely a con.
Charity scams
It's natural to want to support charitable organizations and the good that they do. Unfortunately, con artists recognize this and aren't above preying on the goodwill of seniors.
In a charity scam, cybercriminals reach out to you by email or text asking that you support a charitable cause that happens to be fake. These fake charities might be tied to current events, something that has happened often during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When you send your donations to one of these fake charities? It goes into the pocket of the scammers behind the fake organizations.
How to avoid this scam: Before giving to any charity, you can research it on Charity Navigator and CharityWatch. And if a charity reaches out to you by email or text, don't respond. Instead, go to a specific charity's website and donate there. This reduces the odds that you'll be sending money to a con artist.
Romance scams
You might think you’ve met someone online, through chat rooms, private messaging and email messages. This person you’ve met might even have an active Instagram page or Facebook account. All is going well — even though you’ve never met this individual in person — until your online romantic partner asks for money to cover an emergency.
Your new online friend might need the dollars for emergency car repairs, to travel to the home of a dying relative, or to cover a late payment to the mortgage company. But once you send the money, usually through a service such as PayPal, your potential romantic partner disappears. The messages and texts dry up. The Instagram page and Facebook account might even have disappeared.
This is how online romance scams work. Con artists play the long game, creating fake personas, and then scamming elderly victims into sending them money. Once the victims pay up, the cybercriminals create new personas and seek new victims.
How to avoid this scam: If you want to meet people online, work with legitimate online dating companies. And if someone you have met online, but never in person, requests money, decline. You might be dealing with a cybercriminal. Be wary, too, if your online friend continually makes excuses for not being able to meet you in person. The con artists behind these scams never want to meet their victims in real-life settings.
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. LifeLock offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about cyber safety. Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses.
Transnational Tech Support Scam: Edison, NJ, Woman Among 6 Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Targeting 20,000 Victims
FBI busts a multimillion-dollar tech support scam
In a high-tech extortion scheme on a global scale, six members of a criminal ring were charged in connection with a transnational technical support scam that targeted more than 20,000 victims, many of whom were elderly. The six people who pleaded guilty are Gagan Lamba (41), and Harshad Madaan (34) both of New Delhi, India; Jayant Bhatia (33) of Ontario, Canada, and Vikash Gupta (33) of Faridabad, India, Mrs. Meghna Kumar (50) of New Jersey and Kulwinder Singh (34) of Richmond Hill, New York.
The 6 guilties operated a technical support fraud scheme, targeting elderly victims, and senior citizens across the United States and Canada.
The U.S. Federal law enforcement agencies especially the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Task Force, PEEL Regional Police Canada, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) India, and Delhi Police have put in commendable efforts and global collaborations.
Gagan Lamba, and Harshad Madaan, both of New Delhi, India; Jayant Bhatia of Ontario, Canada, and Vikash Gupta of Faridabad, India, are all charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and substantive violations of wire fraud and computer fraud. Lamba, Madaan, Bhatia, and a fifth defendant, Kulwinder Singh of Richmond Hill, New York, are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Bhatia has been charged with offenses related to his participation in a high-tech fraud scheme.
Authorities in India arrested Madaan on Dec 14, 2022, and Gupta on Dec 15, 2022, on local charges for their involvement in the tech support scheme. Lamba remains at large. Bhatia was arrested by Canadian authorities pursuant to a provisional arrest request from the United States. Singh was arrested at his home in New York. Singh made his initial appearance on Dec 14, 2022, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark Federal Court and was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond.
A sixth defendant, Meghna Kumar of Edison, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Dec 14, 2022, by video conference before Judge Hammer to an information charging her with engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, based on her role in the scheme.
“As alleged in the indictment, the defendants are charged with using access to personal computers to run a high-tech extortion scheme on a global scale,” U.S. Attorney Philip R Sellinger said. “They frequently preyed upon senior citizens and scared them into paying for unnecessary and useless computer repair services. Working with our partners here and abroad, we will remain vigilant in protecting our citizens from these kinds of schemes.”
“Tech-support scams, and other consumer fraud schemes that frequently target elderly or vulnerable citizens are particularly egregious crimes,” Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero, Newark Field Office, Philadelphia Division, said. “Fraudsters, who often operate from outside the United States, may think they can anonymously infiltrate their victims’ homes and lives through the mail, telephone, or computer – without any consequences. However, let today’s enforcement actions put scammers on notice. Through the investigative efforts of U.S. Federal law enforcement, and our international partners, we will work together to pursue those individuals who scam, harass, and steal from our older and respected members of society.”
“Scammers are changing tactics and finding new methods to steal hard-earned money from unsuspecting victims, but it boils down to the same well-worn crime,” FBI Special Agent in Charge James E Dennehy said. “This investigation highlights the FBI’s and our international partners’ work searching and bringing these fraudsters to justice. It also shows victims that regardless of where the criminals are sitting, here or in a foreign country, we will hold them accountable using every tool we have.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2012 through November 2022, the defendants and others were members of a criminal fraud ring that operated a technical support fraud scheme in the United States, India, and Canada. The scheme targeted victims across the United States and Canada, including New Jersey, many of whom were elderly.
The primary objective was to trick victims into believing that their personal computers were infected with a virus or malware and then convince the victims to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to the fraud ring for phony computer repair services. Over the course of the conspiracy, the fraud ring generated more than $10 million in proceeds from at least 20,000 victims.
The fraud ring caused fraudulent pop-up windows to appear on victims’ personal computers. The pop-ups were designed, at times, to “freeze” the victims’ computers, which prevented the victims from using or accessing files on their computers. The pop-ups also claimed, falsely, that the victims’ computers were infected with a virus, or otherwise compromised, and directed the victims to call a telephone number to receive technical support. Sometimes the pop-ups warned victims to not shut down their computers. The pop-ups also included, without authorization, the names of well-known, legitimate technology and antivirus companies. In reality, the pop-ups were a hoax, designed to trick the victims into believing that their computers were infected with viruses that did not actually exist.
Victims who called the technical support phone numbers appearing on the pop-ups were connected to one or more call centers in India associated with the fraud ring. Fraud ring members at the call centers falsely repeated that the victims’ computers were infected with viruses and offered to fix the purported issue for a fee. The fraud ring members would then request permission to remotely access the victims’ computers. Once granted access, fraud ring members would, at times, download and run a freely available adblocker tool, advise the victim that the “issue” had been resolved, and then leave a text file on the desktop of the computer with payment instructions.
Victims were instructed to pay the fraud ring in amounts ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars by:
- Electronically scanning checks made payable to one of several shell companies set up by the fraud ring.
- Sending, via FedEx, physical checks to addresses maintained by Singh and Kumar in New Jersey.
The fraud ring often contacted sure victims again to offer additional services or lengthier service agreements that required victims to pay even more money to the fraud ring.
The wire fraud and computer fraud charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest The money laundering charges carry a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. The transacting in criminal proceeds charges carry a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero, Philadelphia Division, and special agents of the FBI, including the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation. He also thanked the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation, and the Delhi Police for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P Torntore of the U.S. Attorney’s Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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