More than 70 people victimized in 32 states.
By Raif Karerat
Two Indian nationals were arrested in New Jersey after running a scam that victimized at least 70 people in 32 states across the U.S, through a phone scam.
Akash Satish Patel, 32, who was visiting from India, allegedly ran a phone scam targeting people with past IRS problems. Authorities said he would claim to represent the government and then convince them to send him MoneyGrams.
Akash Patel and a woman, Nikita Natvarlal Patel, 25 – not related to each other – were arrested days after a victim notified Jennings. Nikita Patel was in the United States on an expired visa, according to CBS New York.
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Detective Michael Jennings, who made the arrest, worked with MoneyGram, getting tipped off whenever Akash Patel made a transaction.
According to the Fort Lee Daily Voice:
Contacting MoneyGram, he discovered that a “Vincent Arora” conducted 30 or so transactions in a week in various statewide locations…
MoneyGram later alerted Jennings that a transaction was scheduled at a Walmart in Watchung. He called his colleagues there, but they missed their target by 10 minutes … MoneyGram again alerted Jennings to a scheduled transaction at a CVS in Elizabeth…
Police have seized more than $150,000 from the duo, who are not related. They are both charged with conspiracy to commit theft by deception. The manager gave him a description of the thieves and a license plate number.
Elizabeth police then followed the car and seized the Patels. Jennings and Capt. Scott Tamagny picked up the pair in Elizabeth, N.J. and found $9,140 in cash in the car along with MoneyGram receipts from throughout the state. They also discovered $10,822 in Nikita Patel’s apartment.
Related Story: Got a call from the IRS threatening arrest, jail time? It’s a scam
Police say they hope to take some of the money they seized and give it back to the victims.
Earlier this year, the American Bazaar reported that fake IRS agents had targeted more than 366,000 people with aggressive, threatening phone calls demanding payments in the largest ever scam of its kind.
The Associated Press reported the scam is so far-reaching investigators believe multiple cells may be involved, including some overseas.
“These criminal acts are perpetrated by thieves hiding behind telephone lines and computers, preying on honest taxpayers and robbing the Treasury of tens of billions of dollars every year,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. “Taxpayers must be more aware of the risks and better protected from attack and these criminals must be found and brought to justice.”