News Summary
A 25-year-old man from Kingston, Pennsylvania, Abhishek Rameshbh Patel, has been arrested for allegedly scamming an elderly resident out of $80,000 by impersonating a Federal Trade Commission officer. The scam, which took place over two months, involved convincing the victim they owed money. Following a police sting operation, Patel was captured and charged with grand larceny in the second degree. The case highlights the growing threat of scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly seniors.
New York – A 25-year-old man from Kingston, Pennsylvania, has been arrested and charged with grand larceny in the second degree after allegedly scamming a resident of Geneva out of $80,000 by impersonating a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officer. Abhishek Rameshbh Patel was taken into custody by the Geneva Police on Tuesday following a coordinated operation aimed at apprehending him.
Patel is accused of conducting the fraudulent scheme during two separate incidents in June, where he deceived the victim over the phone. By posing as an FTC agent, Patel convinced the victim that they owed a significant amount of money, leading to a total loss of around $80,000. The Geneva Police Detective Bureau tracked Patel and devised a plan to lure him back to Geneva under the pretext of collecting additional funds from the victim.
In a sting operation, police established a meeting at the victim’s home, believing Patel was returning to collect more cash. Authorities were able to arrest him following a traffic stop after he arrived as planned. Following his arrest, Patel was taken to the Ontario County Jail for arraignment but was later released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to respond to the charges in court on Thursday morning.
This particular scam originated from India and primarily targeted elderly individuals, a demographic that is increasingly vulnerable to such deceptive practices. The scammers often claimed that they needed to ensure that the victim’s bank money was not linked to narcotics sales. Victims were frequently promised reimbursement in the form of checks once the required verification was completed.
During the scam, victims received passcodes for confirmation that were supposed to be used when meeting with the scammer to verify the transaction. The con artists maintained contact with their victims until they were able to meet in person and confirm the passcode, creating an appearance of legitimacy. Once they collected the money, the scammers would typically transport the cash to New Jersey for consolidation.
Similar fraudulent phone schemes have been reported in multiple locations, including Victor, Syracuse, and Schenectady. The Geneva Police Department has stated that they suspect Patel may be linked to other scams across various regions of New York State. This highlights the growing concern regarding such scams, which continue to evolve and target unsuspecting individuals.
The investigation into Patel’s actions received assistance from the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, further emphasizing the collaborative efforts to address and curb these fraudulent activities. In light of this case, law enforcement agencies are urging anyone who may have information regarding similar scams to contact the Geneva Police Department or Detective Steven Vine.
Law enforcement officials are committed to protecting citizens from these types of scams and are actively working to raise awareness about the tactics used by fraudsters. The arrest of Patel serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and caution, particularly for the elderly population, who may be targeted due to their trustfulness and concern over financial matters.
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