Amit Ahuja, a 41-year-old resident of Westminster, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a technical support scam. According to authorities, Ahuja and his co-conspirators deceived victims into believing their computers were compromised and required immediate repair or software purchases.
The scheme involved pop-up windows prompting victims to call a phone number, unsolicited phone calls, or victims contacting what they thought was a legitimate technical support company found online. The perpetrators convinced individuals that their computers had serious problems needing urgent attention and claimed to represent reputable computer or security companies.
As a result of the fraudulent activities, more than 1,000 people—many of them older adults—lost over $6.8 million. Victims paid money under false pretenses regarding the condition of their computers and the necessity for services or software.
Ahuja faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
"Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps, including identifying appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to callers to assist them in reporting or connecting them with agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov. Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with HSI’s Tip Line at this website or by calling 1-866-DHS-2-ICE."
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes acknowledged the investigative work conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Maryland division in this case. Hayes also expressed appreciation for Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Philip Motsay for prosecuting.
Additional details about resources provided by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at justice.gov/usao-md as well as justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
