Dodge County authorities arrested an 18-year-old man accused of attempting to scam a local resident out of $81,000. Laxit Devendra Patel, from India, was arrested after he tried to convince a 61-year-old resident in the Town of Lowell to withdraw the large sum of money based on a fake Federal Trade Commission (FTC) phone scam.
According to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, the scammer contacted the victim on Sept. 18, 2024, claiming that their social security number and bank accounts had been compromised. The scammer told the victim that the FTC would provide new credentials, but first, the victim needed to withdraw all their funds in cash to avoid further issues. The scammer arranged for a person from Chicago to pick up the money.
Thanks to prompt reporting by the victim, authorities quickly took control of the situation. Investigators posed as the victim and set up a meeting with the scammer. At the time of the transfer, an undercover officer intercepted the transaction, leading to Patel’s arrest.
Patel, who is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit theft by false representation, had his initial appearance in court on Sept. 20. He is currently being held on a $500,000 cash bond.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office estimates the scammer’s group attempted to defraud the victim of more than $81,000. Authorities continue to investigate the case as they work to dismantle the criminal organization behind the fraudulent operation.