A “tech support” scheme targeting elderly victims has led to the indictment of two men on money laundering charges, federal authorities said.
A federal grand jury in Tucson returned an elder fraud indictment on Dec. 11 against Ahmed Maqbul Syed, 57, and Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi, 27, both citizens of India, on a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Syed was also charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The indictment alleges Syed, Chintakindi and others conspired to launder money obtained by scamming elderly victims around the United States, including Arizona.
Syed has been arrested on the charge and a court ordered him detained pending trial, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tucson, which is handling the prosecution.
Federal prosecutors gave the following account:
Generally, victims were lured in when they observed a “pop-up” display on their computer indicating the computer had been hacked or there was another issue. They were directed to contact “tech support” or “government representatives” to resolve the issue.
They were instead directed to others who continued the ruse that their accounts had been hacked and their information had been compromised, which was not true. The victims were instructed to withdraw or transfer money, and were told that, for example, they needed to protect their money and accounts.
They also were directed to purchase gold from various gold dealers and to withdraw cash. They were told that “representatives of the government” would retrieve the gold and cash from them.
Victims were also told to purchase gift cards from various private businesses and to transfer the gift card numbers to individuals they were led to believe would help them. At least one victim was also directed to make cash deposits into a bitcoin ATM.
Conviction on conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (Indianapolis and Phoenix Divisions) and the Marana Police Department conducted the investigation. Other local law enforcement agencies from Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas and Indiana also assisted with the investigation.
