⚠️ Pop-Ups, Fake “Agents,” Real Losses: Brothers Charged in $400K Senior Scam

WEEKLY SCAM ALERTS
Week of September 6, 2025

• Scammers Steal $14,000 from Elderly Veteran Using Fake Arrest Warrant

• Case Manager Accused of Stealing $70,000 from Elderly Victim

• Fake Astronaut Steals Thousands in Romance Scam Gone Wrong

SENIOR SCAM NEWS
⚠️ Pop-Ups, Fake “Agents,” Real Losses: Brothers Charged in $400K Senior Scam

This week’s case threads together three of the most dangerous tactics we warn about: alarming computer pop-ups, government impostors, and urgent demands to move your money “for safekeeping.” Prosecutors say two New Jersey brothers ran that exact playbook and nearly got away with $400,000 taken from four senior women in New York and Connecticut.

What happened

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced the indictment of Abhishek Barvalia (31) and Tushar Barvalia (32) of Rutherford, NJ. The scheme allegedly ran from June 2023 to January 2024, targeting women ages 76, 78, 83, and 90 living in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and Connecticut. The brothers pleaded not guilty and are due back in court October 22, 2025.

According to prosecutors, the pattern was consistent: a pop-up or unsolicited call claimed the victim’s accounts were compromised. Then came the impersonations—bank reps, Microsoft/Apple security, FTC, even the FBI—pressuring victims to withdraw funds immediately, keep the “investigation” secret, and send cashier’s checks or wire money to accounts the defendants controlled.

Four victims. One playbook.

• 83-year-old (June 30, 2023): A “bank representative” called. She shared account info; $15,000 was wired out that day. A second request for $21,000 was blocked by her bank—a critical save.

• 78-year-old (July 5, 2023): A pop-up said her computer had malware. She phoned the number for “Microsoft,” then was transferred to a fake FTC agent who told her to send money to the government for safekeeping. She mailed two cashier’s checks totaling $70,000.

• 90-year-old (Dec. 4, 2023): A pop-up warned of an “Apple Security Risk.” A supposed government agent said her accounts were being used for illicit activity (even child pornography)—a horrifying lie designed to shock and isolate her. Over two weeks she sent about $136,224.

• 76-year-old (Dec. 11, 2023): A pop-up urged her to call. A fake FBI agent claimed hackers were using her identity to sell drugs, guns, and launder money. She withdrew $171,680 in three cashier’s checks and mailed them as instructed.

DA Gonzalez called the conduct “despicable,” noting the defendants allegedly told victims to keep withdrawals confidential—a classic secrecy tactic used to defeat common-sense support from family and bank staff.

How this scam hooks smart people

1. Fear + Authority: Flashy pop-ups and official-sounding titles (“FBI,” “FTC,” “Bank Security”) trigger panic and obedience.

2. Urgency + Secrecy: “Move it now, tell no one” prevents victims from reality-checking with family or bankers.

3. Frictionless Payment: Cashier’s checks and wires are fast, final, and hard to reverse.

Red flags to share with your circle

• Any pop-up telling you to call a number or grant remote access.

• A caller claiming to be law enforcement, a bank, or Microsoft/Apple who asks for money or account info.

• Instructions to withdraw your savings and mail cashier’s checks or wire funds to “government-controlled” accounts.

• Demands for absolute secrecy.

Do this instead

• Don’t click, don’t call the number. Close the pop-up. If needed, power off and have a trusted local tech check your device.

• Verify on your own. Call your bank using the number on your bank card or statement. For government agencies, find the phone at .gov sites—never from a pop-up or text.

• Ask for backup. Bring a family member to the bank when making large transactions. Ask the manager to review for fraud red flags.

• Tell someone. Real investigations never demand secrecy from your family or banker.

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:

✅ Phone numbers, emails, pop-up screenshots, and any instructions you received
✅ Bank activity: dates, dollar amounts, and copies of checks/wire receipts
✅ Envelopes/labels if you mailed funds, and any tracking numbers
✅ Notes on what was said—especially demands for secrecy or threats

Stay safe, share this with someone you love, and remember: no real bank, tech company, or government agency will ever ask you to move your money “for safekeeping.”