Anikkhan Yusufkhan Pathan, Elder Abuse, Virginia 2020

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history has led to the indictment of Anikkhan Yusufkhan Pathan, a resident of Virginia.

Anikkhan Yusufkhan Pathan, 37, was accused of serving as a money mule for Indian call centers that affected hundreds of elderly Americans. These call centers contacted victims by phone and, through various schemes, induced them to send money by wire transfers to various aliases. The schemes include variants of loan fraud, through which conspirators promised new loans and/or loan consolidation. Once victims provided their bank information, conspirators deposited worthless checks and directed victims to immediately withdraw the credited funds and wire them to a separate account. Conspirators also contacted victims through mass mailings and, posing as the victims' true mortgage lenders, directed victims to begin making their mortgage payments to accounts controlled by conspirators. Finally, conspirators contacted victims by phone and, posing as employees of Microsoft, advised victims that their computers contained fatal viruses that would cause irreparable harm if victims did not immediately remit payment for repair. Although the conspiracy affected hundreds of victims, Anikkhan Yusufkhan Pathan is responsible for losses caused to approximately 10 victims totaling approximately $150,000.

Anikkhan Yusufkhan Pathan pleaded guilty in February and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29.

The large-scale elder abuse scheme caused alleged losses of over $1 billion, with prosecutors across the Department of Justice charging more than 400 defendants, far surpassing the 260 defendants charged in cases as part of last year’s sweep.

“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens,” said Attorney General William P. Barr.

The Eastern District of Virginia is on the frontlines of combatting elder abuse and financial fraud through both criminal prosecutions and community outreach. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin G. Cooke serves as the District’s Elder Justice Coordinator.

EDVA ranked fourth nationally in the number of criminal cases charged during the sweep.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/under-doj-call-action-edva-national-leader-elder-justice