Parth Patel Arrested for Role in International Scam Targeting Elderly Victims
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Cherokee County detectives have arrested 27-year-old Parth Patel in connection with an international scam that has cost victims hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Patel, who reportedly traveled from Canada and made stops in various states before reaching Cherokee County, was apprehended on charges of felony criminal attempt and conspiracy to commit a crime. Authorities believe he is part of a larger criminal network, which they suspect is based overseas, possibly in the UK or India.
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Captain Jay Baker stated, “He’s certainly part of the organization, but we don’t think he’s at the top. We believe the masterminds are operating from abroad.”
One elderly victim, an 80-year-old resident of Cherokee County, was specifically targeted. Investigators say she received a call from someone pretending to be with Amazon, claiming a fraudulent iPhone purchase had been made in her name. The caller convinced her that her identity had been stolen and instructed her to take immediate steps to protect her finances.
The victim, believing she was acting to secure her money, followed the scammer’s instructions. She was first asked to purchase $1,500 worth of gift cards. Later, the scammers contacted her again, convincing her to wire $50,000 to a bank in New York. Throughout the ordeal, she was misled into believing that her funds were being protected, not stolen.
In a further escalation, the victim also handed over gold to the scammers, resulting in a total loss of $150,000.
The FBI has noted a concerning rise in scams targeting seniors, with these frauds increasing by 11% in recent years, amounting to over $3 billion in losses. FBI Financial Crimes Agent Aaron Seres emphasized the importance of caution when pressured into sending money, especially to unknown individuals. “If you’re being asked to send funds to someone you don’t know personally, be very skeptical,” Seres advised.
Patel has since posted bond, but authorities are continuing their investigation in collaboration with the FBI and Homeland Security to dismantle the criminal network behind these scams.