Indian Citizen Hitesh Patel, Call Center Scam Leader, Extradited to US for defrauded thousands of U.S. residents around hundreds of millions of dollars.
In 2016, Hitesh Madhubhai Patel and 60 others charged in call centre fraud
May Sentenced up to 20 years in prison
Los Angeles, April 19,, 2019
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh Grewal
Indian Citizen Hitesh Madhubhai Patel, 42, Owner of HGlobal call center, has been extradited to the United States from Singapore to face charges related to his role as an operator of a call center network that targeted U.S victims.
The massive India-based telephone impersonation fraud and money laundering conspiracy defrauded thousands of U.S. residents out of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Hitesh Madhubhai Patel arrived in the United States and is scheduled to be arraigned today before a U.S. magistrate judge in federal court in Houston, Texas.
In 2016, The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs charged Patel and 60 other individuals and entities with general conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
HSI Executive Associate Director Benner said:
- Hitesh Patel operated a call center that allegedly preyed upon vulnerable U.S. citizens as part of a massive fraud scheme
- HSI will continue to utilize its unique investigative mandate, in conjunction with our local, state and federal partners, to attack and dismantle the criminal enterprises who would seek to manipulate U.S. institutions and taxpayers
- This is extradition should serve as a strong deterrent to anyone considering taking part in similar scams, and I hope it provides a sense of justice for the victims as well
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration J. Russell George said:
IRS impersonation scam;
- Since 2013, the IRS impersonation scam has been on a relentless path, claiming more than 15,000 victims who have collectively suffered over $75 million in losses
- TIGTA’s investigations, often conducted with other Federal agencies, have identified 140 scammers, including Patel, who have preyed upon taxpayers.
- Today’s extradition and arraignment are proof that TIGTA and its law enforcement partners will be equally relentless in rooting out individuals who fraudulently identify themselves as IRS employees in order to extort money from taxpayers. We especially appreciate the cooperation of the Government of Singapore for its role in the extradition.”
“Call Center’s owners, managers and employees of overseas who target U.S. residents should know that our pursuit of justice for victims of their scams does not stop at the water’s edge,” Special Agent said. “US will continue to work with our international partners to identify these fraudsters, track them down and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
- Hitesh Madhubhai Patel operated the HGlobal call center conglomerate and participated in a complex fraudulent scheme involving a network of call centers based in Ahmedabad, India.
- Using information obtained from data brokers and other sources, India-based conspirators allegedly called potential victims while impersonating officials from the IRS or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- The call center conspirators then threatened victims with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay taxes or penalties to the government.
- When victims agreed to pay, the call centers used a network of U.S.-based conspirators to quickly liquidate and launder the extorted funds through the use of stored value cards or via wire transfers.
- As alleged in the indictment, the stored value cards were often registered by the scammers using misappropriated personal identifying information of thousands of identity theft victims, and conspirators collected the wire transfers by using fake names and fraudulent identifications.
Fake short-term loans or Grants Schemes:
- The call center conspirators also defrauded victims through other schemes, including via offering fake short-term loans or grants.
- The indictment alleges that the conspirators would then request a good-faith deposit to show the victims’ ability to pay back the loan or a fee to process the grant.
- The victims of the alleged scam never received any money after making the requested payment.
The defendants: A total of 24 domestic defendants associated with this transnational criminal scheme have previously been convicted and sentenced to terms of imprisonment of up to 20 years in the Southern District of Texas, District of Arizona and Northern District of Georgia.
- They were also ordered to pay millions of dollars in victim restitution and money judgments and to forfeit seized assets.
- Some defendants were ordered to be deported based on their illegal immigration status
- Another defendant having his U.S. citizenship revoked due to a separate conviction for immigration fraud
Singapore authorities apprehended Patel at the request of the United States pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant on Sept. 21, 2018, after flying from India to Singapore.
- The Singaporean Minister for Law issued a warrant on March 25, 2019 for Patel to be delivered into custody of the United States.
Department of Justice Website has been established:
- Website will provide information about the case to victims and the public.
- Anyone who believes they may be a victim of fraud or identity theft in relation to this investigation or other telefraud scam phone calls may contact the FTC via this website.
| In 2016, Hitesh Madhubhai Patel and 60 others charged in call centre fraud |
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