GUILFORD — A Boston man has been arrested for allegedly scamming a Guilford resident out of $36,000 last year, according to local police.
The incident took place on November 7, 2024, when the victim received a suspicious text message appearing to be from “LifeLock by Norton.” The message warned of an urgent security alert regarding her property and included a link. Concerned, the resident contacted what she believed to be a LifeLock representative—only to unknowingly fall into a sophisticated scam, Lt. Martina Jakober of the Guilford Police Department said in a news release Tuesday.
The scammer falsely claimed that a $36,000 overseas wire transfer had been made in her name. To gain her trust, the imposter correctly referenced her recent payment details. He then convinced her to switch to an encrypted phone line, warning that her cellphone had been compromised.
Under the guise of preventing the fraudulent transfer, the scammer instructed the victim to withdraw $36,000 from her bank while staying on the phone. She was told to keep the transaction a secret and inform bank employees that the money was for a vehicle purchase. The fraudster further misled her by claiming a supposed FBI agent would visit her home to collect the cash for “safekeeping” and to prevent repercussions with the FDIC.
To make the scheme appear legitimate, the scammer and victim set up a passcode for verification. Later that day, a man arrived at her home, correctly recited the code, and collected the cash.
Before he left, the victim managed to photograph his vehicle and license plate—a critical detail that later helped authorities track him down. Shortly after, realizing she had been scammed, she contacted the police.
After months of investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies and search warrants, detectives identified the suspect as 25-year-old Darshan C. Shaha from Boston. On Friday, the Boston Police Fugitive Task Force apprehended Shaha at his home, charging him as a fugitive from justice.
Shaha was later transferred to the Guilford Police Department on Monday, where he was officially charged with:
First-degree larceny
First-degree telephone fraud
To prevent similar scams, Lt. Jakober urged residents to remain cautious. She advised never to respond directly to suspicious texts, calls, or emails and to be wary of anyone requesting secrecy or urgent action.
“If a caller demands urgency, instructs you to be deceitful, or requests payment via gift cards, it’s a scam—hang up and call the police immediately,” Jakober said.
If a theft does occur, Jakober stressed the importance of reporting it immediately, as quick action can sometimes help recover lost funds.
