Sixth man convicted in nationwide fraud conspiracy

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Florida man is the latest person to be sentenced in connection with a scam ring that federal prosecutors say netted $11 million by targeting elderly people across the country, including in Michigan.

Everette Thibou, 32, of Tampa, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, the U.S. attorney’s office said in a statement Thursday.

Federal authorities say the group Thibou was part of ran a scam that began when victims received pop-up messages saying their computers had a virus. When they called the number provided in the messages, they got people claiming to be from a well-known company – but they were really scammers in India. Scammers told different stories to scare victims into giving them money: sometimes, they said victims had to pay for technical support for the fake virus. Other times, they said victims’ bank accounts had been compromised and they should withdraw all their money. Sometimes they said the victim had been named in a crime and had to pay to make the charges go away. Victims were told to meet in person to give money to so-called federal agents — who were actually several scammers — or to distribute the money to the scammers via wire transfers or gift cards.

Authorities say 50 people across the country, mostly elderly, have fallen victim to the scam.

Five other defendants who investigators say collected money from victims previously convictedincluding a New York man who authorities say received nearly $400,000 from a Lake County, Michigan woman and a Flint woman.

Two convicted in $11 million fraud scheme

Authorities say they are still looking for a seventh suspect: Pragneshbhai M. Patel, of Amityville, New York. An arrest warrant was issued last year.

“The victims in this case have suffered anxiety, fear, humiliation and devastating financial loss,” U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said in a statement Thursday. “The defendants were relentless, preying on the elderly, often re-victimizing their targets. They didn’t care that they were stealing from the vulnerable elderly; all they cared about was making money. In this case and beyond, we are committed to holding fraudsters accountable, especially when they target vulnerable members of our communities.”

The FBI Elder Fraud website has information on how to spot and avoid scams. If you or someone you know has been the victim of fraud, call the Elder Fraud Helpline at 1.833.FRAUD.11 (372.8311) between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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