DETROIT – Mubasher Riaz, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, has admitted to running a sophisticated online refund scheme that cost vendors over $400,000. Riaz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bringing an end – for now – to a fraud that spanned nearly seven years, from July 2017 until his arrest in November 2023. The announcement came from United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., alongside Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The scheme, executed with the help of his brother, Muzzammil Riaz, who pleaded guilty to a lesser role on June 4, 2025, involved purchasing goods online using stolen identities and masking their tracks with virtual private networks and a rotating arsenal of electronic devices. The pair targeted hundreds of vendors, racking up purchases of cell phones, tablets, electronic doorbells, and clothing. The con wasn’t about wanting the goods; it was about exploiting the system. They’d claim the items were defective, initiating refund requests while knowingly sending back empty boxes, cheap counterfeits, or completely different items – a book, perhaps – to match the expected weight of the returned product.
Mubasher Riaz then flipped the unlawfully obtained merchandise for profit, turning the fraudulent operation into a personal cash cow. The FBI stumbled onto the scheme almost by accident. Agents were executing a search warrant at Riaz’s Ypsilanti home in November 2023 related to a separate, disturbing investigation into the sexual exploitation of children. What they found in plain view wasn’t just evidence of that heinous crime, but a warehouse of stolen goods – over 40 cell phones and 30 tablets, each meticulously labeled with the personal information of the identities used to fuel the fraud.
Investigators have identified several email addresses frequently used in the fraudulent purchases and refund requests. These include: docriaz1983@gmail.com, honorrollmd@gmail.com, joota429@gmail.com, muza34082@outlook.com, juka4299@gmail.com, and juano42@yahoo.com. Law enforcement officials believe the scope of the fraud is vast, and countless other victims may remain undiscovered. The FBI is actively seeking information from anyone who believes they may have been targeted by Riaz and his brother.
Potential victims are strongly encouraged to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation through their dedicated portal: www.fbi.gov/mubasherriazvictims (case sensitive). This investigation was spearheaded by the FBI, with Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Zurek leading the prosecution. While Muzzammil Riaz received a plea deal for a lesser charge, Mubasher Riaz now faces the consequences of a long-running, calculated scheme designed to line his pockets at the expense of honest businesses.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as sentencing details emerge. This isn’t just about money; it’s about the brazen disregard for the law and the ripple effect of fraud on legitimate businesses and consumers. Consider this a warning: the digital world isn’t a lawless frontier, and those who attempt to exploit it will eventually face justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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