💰 5 Plead Guilty to $9.3M Tech-Support Scam Targeting Seniors

WEEKLY SCAM ALERTS
Week of October 5

• Banks Can Soon Stop Scams That Target Seniors

• Insurance Agent Ordered to Pay $1.7 Million in Elder Fraud Case

• Bank Teller Saves Man from $30,000 Scam

SENIOR SCAM NEWS
💰 5 Plead Guilty to $9.3M Tech-Support Scam Targeting Seniors

This week’s case is a master class in how modern scammers turn a single fake “tech support” alert into a cross-country operation that drains life savings—sometimes in a single afternoon. Victims were told to buy gold bars or coins and hand them to couriers who arrived at their doors or in nearby parking lots.

Federal prosecutors announced that five defendants have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their roles in a scheme that targeted elderly victims in ten states and funneled money to overseas organizers.

Here’s what happened, how the operation worked step-by-step, and the practical moves that can stop this exact scam before a single dollar—or ounce—leaves your hands.

Who Pleaded Guilty—and What They Admitted

Over the past month, the following individuals entered guilty pleas to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud:

• Dariona Lambert, 23

• Zhamoniq Stevens, 24

• Chintankumar Parekh, 52

• Mehulkumar Darji, 42

• Sital Singh, 43

Their roles were split into two layers:

• Couriers: Lambert and Stevens admitted they traveled to victims, picked up gold bars/coins, and moved the loot on command.

• Handlers: Darji, Parekh, and Singh admitted they coordinated pickups, paid couriers in cash, and forwarded the gold to higher-ups.

Prosecutors say the overseas organizers—who initiated the scam calls and messages—ultimately netted about $9.3 million. All five face up to 30 years in prison and $1 million in fines.

The Playbook: From “Your Account Is Compromised” to “Buy Gold Now”

This scheme followed the now-classic “tech-support + government-impostor” arc, executed with military-style logistics:

1. Initial Contact (Fear Trigger):
   Overseas callers or message senders posed as software support (“your computer is compromised,” “your accounts are at risk”) to older Americans. They often complemented this with pop-ups or emails to legitimize the threat.

2. Authority Stacking:
   After panicking the victim, scammers escalated to a second “authority”—often a phony bank investigator or federal agent—to confirm the supposed danger and add pressure.

3. Secrecy + Speed:
   Victims were told to act immediately and tell no one, not even their bank or family—supposedly to avoid “tipping off the hackers.”

4. Asset Conversion to Gold:
   Instead of a wire (which banks can flag), victims were directed to buy gold bars or coins—a method that looks like a personal investment and skirts many automated fraud controls.

5. Courier Hand-Off:
   The ring then deployed couriers (Lambert, Stevens) to collect the gold at homes, in parking lots, or via deliveries. Handlers (Darji, Parekh, Singh) coordinated routes, rented cars, paid couriers in cash, and moved the gold up the chain.

6. Distribution Overseas:
   After the hand-off, the gold or its proceeds were laundered and routed abroad—money that is significantly harder to trace or claw back.

A Case Study: The 82-Year-Old St. Louis Victim

In one detailed example, an 82-year-old St. Louis woman was told by “software support” that her bank and retirement accounts were compromised and she had to open new accounts, wire funds overseas, and buy about $250,000 in gold to keep her savings “safe.”

On May 1, 2024, Lambert flew from Gainesville, Florida, to St. Louis. Parekh rented a car and drove her to a parking lot near the victim’s home, where Lambert switched to an Uber for the last leg—an extra layer designed to defeat surveillance and make tails harder to follow. Federal agents intercepted Lambert on arrival. When Lambert alerted Parekh that she’d been detained, Parekh fled to Pittsburgh.

That wasn’t the only pickup. According to plea documents:

• Parekh admitted handling gold pickups in Yuma & Scottsdale (AZ); Placentia & La Jolla (CA); Largo (FL); Chapel Hill (NC); Pittsburgh (PA).

• Singh admitted handling in Collierville (TN); Universal City (TX); Greendale (WI).

• Darji admitted handling in Scottsdale (AZ); Largo (FL); La Jolla (CA)—including three FedEx deliveries of gold bars from the Largo victim.

• Lambert couriered in Scottsdale, Placentia, La Jolla, Largo, Universal City, Hanover (MA), and Erie (PA).

• Stevens couriered in Yuma, La Jolla, Collierville, Largo, Greendale, Oxnard (CA), Long Island (NY), and Cincinnati (OH).

Ten states. Dozens of coordinated pickups. Millions in losses.

Why Gold? (And Why This Tactic Is Spreading)

Scammers have learned that banks often stop suspicious wires, especially when a customer suddenly tries to send their life savings to a new overseas account. But if the victim buys gold or coins, it looks like a personal investment—no bank transfer to review. After purchase, the gold can be physically handed to a courier or shipped—hard to trace, easy to move, and simple to liquidate.

This is why we’re seeing a surge in “gold pickup” scams across the country. If anyone—anyone—tells you to convert savings to gold to “protect” it, you’re not talking to a helper. You’re talking to a thief.

The Red Flags You Can Act On—Today

• Unsolicited “tech support” messages or pop-ups telling you to call a number or click a link.

• A caller claiming to be bank security or a federal agent who says your accounts are compromised.

• Instructions to keep it secret from family and even your banker.

• Urgent demands to open new accounts, wire money, or buy gold/coins.

• Plans to send a courier or ride-share driver to your home or a parking lot to “secure evidence.”

One sentence that ends 99% of this:

Then hang up. Don’t debate. Don’t explain. End the call.

If You Think You’re Being Targeted (or You Already Paid)

1. Stop the transaction if possible. Call your bank’s fraud team using the number on your card. Ask about recalls/holds; give dates, amounts, and destinations.

2. If you bought gold/coins, call the dealer immediately to flag the transaction; ask about reversal or hold options if the metal hasn’t changed hands.

3. Save everything: pop-ups, emails, caller IDs, texts, receipts, shipping labels, tracking numbers, serial numbers, and any “letters” they sent.

4. Report it: file at IC3.gov (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center) and contact local police.

5. Secure your devices: disconnect the affected computer, change email/bank passwords from a clean device, and enable two-factor authentication. Have a trusted local technician check for malware.

Credit Where It’s Due

This case was investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (Tampa) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll. The pleas demonstrate that coordinated law enforcement can—and does—unravel complex, multi-state rings that rely on couriers, handlers, and overseas bosses.

But the first line of defense is still you: your skepticism, your pause, your quick call to a trusted number.

Your Voice Could Be the Turning Point

If something feels wrong—it probably is.

Scammers count on silence. They rely on embarrassment to keep you quiet. But reporting a scam doesn’t make you a victim—it makes you part of the solution.

Whether you caught the scam in time or handed over money, your story can help catch criminals, protect others, and recover losses.

📢 What To Do If You’ve Been Targeted

If you're over 60 or helping a loved one navigate fraud, take action right away:

• 📞 Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline:
  1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)
  Trained professionals will guide you through the next steps—confidentially and with compassion.

• 💻 Report it online at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center:
  www.ic3.gov

• 🚔 Contact your local police department, even if the scam “didn’t work.” Every report builds a case.

What to Include in Your Report:

✅ Names, phone numbers, emails, pop-up screenshots, and any “badge” or letterhead used
✅ Bank/transaction details (dates, amounts, destinations)
✅ Receipts for gold, wires, crypto, gift cards, or shipping labels
✅ Device logs and courier/ride-share details if there was a pickup

Please share this with a friend or neighbor. One conversation can stop the next pickup before it starts.