BAXTER COUNTY, Ark. – Multiple law enforcement agencies and a television production company teamed up in a series of coordinated sting operations that resulted in three arrests linked to scams targeting senior citizens, according to the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said all three suspects acted as money mules for large-scale fraud networks attempting to steal tens of thousands of dollars from elderly residents. The operations were follow-ups to a summer crackdown that stopped several similar schemes. Trilogy Media, a group known for exposing scam operations, reported the earlier arrests and assisted with these latest stings alongside Homeland Security and the FBI.
The first incident took place on December 3, when a mule traveled to Mountain Home expecting to pick up $250,000 from an 86-year-old man—who was actually a decoy. The suspect, 62-year-old Melvin Covin of Everett, Washington, allegedly posed as an FBI agent during the attempted pickup. Agents tracked him and arrested him upon arrival. Covin is now facing felony charges including theft, conspiracy, and intent to defraud. Officials said Covin bizarrely claimed he was working with the FBI and CIA to recover money he believed had been stolen from him.
A second operation the next day involved an overpayment scam, where scammers told the intended victim he was at risk of prosecution unless he refunded money immediately. Using another decoy and bait house, officers lured in 30-year-old Samar Nawaz, who expected to collect $60,000 from a 95-year-old victim. Nawaz became suspicious and attempted to flee but was stopped and arrested. Authorities say he is a New Jersey resident and an Indian citizen with an expired visa. He was also wanted in North Carolina for allegedly defrauding another elderly victim of $50,000.
Later that same day, a third arrest occurred in another overpayment scheme involving a supposed $60,000 cash pickup. Officers once again used a bait house, where the decoy handed over prop money to the suspect. 23-year-old Fardin Talah, of Brooklyn, New York, was detained moments later and is now facing felony charges including conspiracy, fraud, impersonation, and unauthorized use of property.
Authorities say scammers appear to be aware of the ongoing stings. As recently as December 5, officials reported that scam callers immediately hung up upon learning they had reached a Mountain Home address.
