DARTMOUTH, MA — A 21-year-old Queens man, Arman Verma, has been arrested after allegedly scamming a Dartmouth woman out of $86,500 in a fake tech support scheme, local police said Tuesday.
Verma was taken into custody on June 4 following a reverse sting operation carried out by Dartmouth Police detectives in collaboration with an FBI agent.
According to authorities, the victim began receiving phone calls in late May from a man claiming to work for Bank of America and Microsoft. The caller told her that her bank account and computer had been “compromised” and needed immediate, costly repairs.
The scammer instructed the woman to photograph cash and send it to a designated email address. Over several weeks, an accomplice allegedly visited her home five times to collect substantial amounts of cash. Each drop-off further drained her finances.
When the suspect contacted the victim again to demand an additional $30,000, she alerted police. Law enforcement intercepted the drop-off and arrested Verma at the scene.
“This arrest is the result of outstanding investigative work and a testament to our commitment to protecting our community from financial predators,” Dartmouth Police Chief Brian Levesque said in a statement.
Verma now faces multiple charges, including:
Attempt to commit a crime (larceny over $1,200 by false pretenses)
Larceny under $1,200
Conspiracy
The investigation remains active. Authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact Detective Kyle Berube at 508-910-1760.
