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Indian imprisoned for scamming seniors in US
The scheme, conducted through international computer hacking, led to over $1.2 million in total losses
The scheme led to over $1.2 million in total losses / Image - Unsplash
A federal judge sentenced an Indian national to four years and three months in prison for his involvement in a scheme that targeted elderly Americans nationwide, resulting in the theft of $150,000 from a woman in Kalispell, Montana.
Sukhdev Vaid, 24, hailing from Haryana, India, pleaded guilty to wire fraud perpetrated in December 2023. The scheme, conducted through international computer hacking, led to over $1.2 million in total losses, US Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
As part of the sentencing, the court ordered Vaid to serve time in custody and then be remanded to the Bureau of Customs and Immigration Enforcement for deportation upon release. Additionally, Vaid was directed to pay $1,236,470 in restitution.
“It has become all too common for people outside of our country to victimize Montanans, especially as it relates to wire fraud, and get away with it. But not this time. Vaid is going to federal prison due to the sophistication and tenacity of the FBI, for which I am grateful,” US Attorney Laslovich said.
According to court documents, the government alleged that a significant operation based in India was responsible for defrauding elderly Americans of $1,236,470. The case in Montana originated in February 2023 when Glacier Bank notified the FBI about a 73-year-old woman in Kalispell, identified as Jane Doe, who had been victimized.
Fraudsters employed a scheme involving a pop-up notice on Doe's computer screen, claiming she had been hacked and instructing her to contact a provided number for customer support.
Doe followed the instructions by fraudsters and was directed to withdraw money from her bank accounts for safekeeping, purportedly at the "Fed." Subsequently, she complied and was duped of over $150,000 by the fraudsters.
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