"The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office says two New Jersey brothers scammed four senior women out of nearly $400,000, through schemes that often began with pop-ups on the seniors' computers. Authorities said Monday the two men pretended to be government agents or bank representatives, telling the women - who ranged in age from 76 to 90 years old - that their bank accounts were compromised and they needed to withdraw all of their money immediately."
"Early in July 2023, a 78-year-old woman received a notification on her computer claiming it was infected with malware, and urging her to call a number that purported to be for Microsoft, the DA's office said. The woman was transferred to someone pretending to be a representative from the Federal Trade Commission, warning her that she should send her savings to the federal government for safekeeping, the DA's office said. She sent the men $70,000 via two cashier's checks, prosecutors said."
Two New Jersey brothers, Abhishek Barvalia, 31, and Tushar Barvalia, 32, are charged with grand larceny and conspiracy for allegedly scamming four senior women out of nearly $400,000. Victims ranged from 76 to 90 years old and lived in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and Connecticut. Schemes often began with computer pop-ups or phone calls, with perpetrators impersonating bank representatives, government agents, Microsoft, or the Federal Trade Commission. Specific losses include $15,000 wired in June 2023, $70,000 sent via cashier's checks in July, and $136,224 taken in December 2023. Both men pleaded not guilty at arraignment.
Read at Gothamist
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