A South Boston man has been indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, accused of duping an elderly man out of nearly half a million dollars. A report released today cites 21-year-old Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel as the alleged conspirator in a deceitful scheme that targeted a 75-year-old from Berkshire County, Mass. Patel was taken into custody on October 7 and is currently under court mandated GPS monitoring.
According to the
Department of Justice
announcement, the fraudulent activity occurred between February and October, during which Patel and others led to believe the victim he was ensnared in a money laundering case. Instructions were given by a co-conspirator, posing as a U.S. Treasury official, to withdraw cash for “safekeeping.” Arrested after attempting to collect cash from the victim, wrapped in a taped box bearing his own name, Patel believed he spoke to the individual he mistook for the victim before being apprehended with the prearranged passcode and box in hand.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen confirmed the unfolding situation. In their combined efforts with local law enforcement, they briefed the public on the importance of vigilance against cybercrimes, directing those who suspect foul play to contact relevant authorities. The indictment, while serious with the potential for a 20-year prison sentence, does not equate to guilt; as per U.S. law, Patel is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The elder fraud conspiracy reflects a disturbing trend of predatory crimes targeting vulnerable seniors. It echoes a nationwide call to enforce stringent measures for safeguarding the financial security of the aging population. Members of the community are urged to report any dubious activities to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or the National Elder Fraud Hotline. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown is the lead on the prosecution. Patel and his co-conspirators have yet to present their defense in a court of law.
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