A 19-year-old Apex man, Avinash Chandreshbhai Patel, appeared in court Friday after being arrested for his alleged role in a financial scam targeting an elderly resident in Lee County.
Patel was taken into custody on September 25 after deputies said he attempted to collect money under false pretenses.
According to investigators, Patel contacted the victim claiming their computer had been locked and demanded payment to “unlock” it. The victim was instructed to withdraw cash, which was later collected by an associate.
The scam came to light thanks to the vigilance of the victim’s bank and concerned family members, who contacted authorities when the suspects returned the following day to demand more money.
Deputies arrested Patel during this second attempt. He is currently facing charges of obtaining property by false pretense and felony conspiracy. He remains in custody on a $75,000 secured bond.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.
