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Portage Man Charged With International Telemarketing Fraud Targeting Elderly Victims
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Mark Totten today announced an indictment charging Irfan Gill, 62, of Portage, Michigan, with 7 counts of mail fraud and 11 counts of money laundering.
The indictment alleges that beginning as early as June 2018, and continuing through at least March 2022, Gill worked with a call center in Pakistan as part of a telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across the United States.
"As we have alleged, defendant Irfan Gill ran an international network to exploit America’s seniors," said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. "These scams are not going away and so we need to remain vigilant. Be cautious when you receive an unsolicited contact or offer. Resist the pressure to act quickly. Never send personally identifiable information or anything of value to unverified people or businesses.
Gill faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of a telemarketing fraud that targeted or victimized 10 or more people over the age of 55. He faces up to 20 years in prison for the money laundering charges in the indictment.
According to allegations in the indictment, Gill claimed to operate several businesses: Cable Upgrade; D Network; D Tech; Direct Network; Dish; Dish Upgrade; and Sky Satellite. Telephone solicitors at a call center in Pakistan cold-called victims with offers of equipment upgrades, software upgrades, and subscription discounts for their cable television, satellite television, and internet services. While the businesses did not actually provide any of those services, callers instructed victims to send payments to Gill’s post office boxes in Portage. Gill deposited victims’ payments in his bank accounts. Gill tracked victims’ payments and used money transfer services like Remitly and Western Union to pay a portion of the proceeds to the telephone solicitors in Pakistan.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office presently believes that the scheme victimized over 1,400 people nationwide.
"Postal Inspectors are dedicated to safeguarding the well-being and security of the American public, with a particular focus on protecting the elderly and vulnerable individuals, from fraudulent schemes," said Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins of the Detroit Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "Today’s indictment serves as a stark reminder of the exploitation tactics employed by criminals who prey on the elderly and other susceptible individuals through deceptive telemarketing schemes, with the sole intention of extracting as much money as possible and, in some cases, causing irreversible financial damage to their victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are working to identify other individuals, nationwide, who may have been victimized by sending payments to the post office boxes listed below for any of the listed businesses:
Post Office Boxes:
P.O. Box 122, Portage, Michigan 49024
P.O. Box 404, Portage, Michigan 49024
P.O. Box 421, Portage, Michigan 49024
P.O. Box 482, Portage, Michigan 49024
P.O. Box 1164, Portage, Michigan 49024
P.O. Box 1562, Portage, Michigan 49024
Businesses:
Cable Upgrade
D Network
D Tech
Direct Network
Dish
Dish Upgrade
Sky Satellite
If you believe you are a victim in this case, please visit this page or contact Kathy Schuette, Victim Witness Coordinator, at (616) 451-9670.
Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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