Law enforcement in New Jersey have arrested a suspected courier linked to a tech-support scam that defrauded an elderly resident of $50,000.
According to the Berkeley Township Police, the incident began when the victim encountered a computer pop-up purporting to be from Microsoft. The prompt directed her to call a specific phone number. Upon calling, the victim spoke with individuals posing as representatives from Microsoft and Wells Fargo. The scammers falsely claimed her bank accounts had been compromised and persuaded her to move her funds for protection. Trusting the callers, the victim initially mailed a $50,000 cashier’s check.
The fraudsters subsequently contacted the victim on a daily basis and demanded an additional $30,000. They told her that a courier would visit her home to collect the cash for safekeeping.
Following a report from the victim, police established surveillance around the residence while communications with the scammers continued. On Friday, August 14th, officers observed a gray Toyota RAV4 arrive near the property after the victim was notified that the courier was en route.
Officers arrested 24-year-old Gurdutt Singh of South Richmond, New York. Singh faces charges of conspiracy to commit third-degree theft by deception and conspiracy to commit third-degree money laundering. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail to await further court proceedings.
Federal data highlights that tech-support schemes utilizing fake alerts and demands for access frequently target older adults, resulting in billions of dollars in annual losses for seniors.
