In June 2024, the victim received a pop-up message on his computer indicating that the device had been locked. The victim called the number listed in the message and was contacted by a person who identified himself as “Sam Wilson” and claimed to be an agent of the US Treasury Department.
Wilson convinced the victim that her name was associated with a fraudulent money laundering scheme and that she should transfer $420,000 to a “secure account” to protect her finances.
For several months, the victim made money transfers in the form of cash, which were delivered by several couriers. Ultimately, during the transfer of another payment in October 2024, the courier, Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel, was arrested. Patel admitted for whom he worked as a courier, picking up packages on the instructions of another person in exchange for a reward.
This case shows how fraudsters use social engineering techniques to intimidate victims and extort large sums of money from them under the guise of protection or assistance. Despite constant warnings from law enforcement agencies, such schemes continue to develop.