By ROXANNE ABRAMOWITZ
Upper Tyrone Township, PA — Thanks to the quick thinking of Mid Penn Bank employees, a 75-year-old Upper Tyrone Township man was saved from falling victim to a $28,000 scam. The suspects, Harshil Chandreshkumar Patel and Harsh Prakashbbai Parekh, both 23 and residing in New Jersey, were arrested on October 25 after attempting to deceive the elderly man into withdrawing a large sum of money.
According to State Trooper Kalee Barnhart, public information officer for Troop B, the bank alerted state police on October 24 after noticing a large withdrawal made by the victim. The man explained to officers that he had received a fraudulent text message claiming to be from a “fraud department” about a Walmart order. The scammers instructed the victim to withdraw the $28,000, claiming that a transaction would occur at his home the following day.
Suspicious of the withdrawal, Mid Penn Bank staff contacted authorities, who then interviewed the victim. Through their investigation, it was revealed that the victim had been communicating with the scammers for several days, following their instructions to withdraw the funds.
On October 25, the police set up a plan to catch the fraudsters in the act. Officers were stationed at the victim’s house, monitoring communications between the victim and the suspects. Around 3:30 p.m., Patel and Parekh, both on student visas and originally from India, arrived at the victim’s home in a rental vehicle, where they were arrested.
Both suspects were charged with multiple felony offenses, and bail was denied. They were transported to Fayette County Jail, where they await their preliminary hearing scheduled for November 6.
Trooper Barnhart emphasized the importance of recognizing red flags when dealing with potential scams. These include unsolicited contact from unknown sources, creating a sense of urgency, and pressuring victims into using untraceable payment methods, such as wire transfers or gift cards.
The investigation also highlighted that scammers often target elderly individuals, using high-pressure tactics to trick them into parting with large sums of money. Barnhart praised the proactive actions of Mid Penn Bank employees, whose quick response helped prevent the crime.
As Cpl. Michael Doriguzzi noted, scammers often ask victims to meet them in person and collect money from their homes, sometimes instructing them to place cash in a box for pickup. Doriguzzi urged the public to always second-guess such requests and consult a family member or law enforcement before acting.
The case serves as a reminder to remain vigilant and skeptical of unsolicited requests for money, especially those made under suspicious circumstances.