⏱ 2 min read
Barry Glenn Augustinsky, a 55-year-old Poquoson man, orchestrated a massive telemarketing scam from 2018 to 2023, targeting vulnerable individuals across the United States. Augustinsky, who owned various telecommunications companies, partnered with a call center in Karachi, Pakistan, to make millions of voice calls to people in the US. The scammers made false promises to reduce or eliminate credit card debt in exchange for payments, which were then collected by Augustinsky.
The scheme involved representatives from the Pakistani call center, OneTen Communications, posing as agents of legitimate debt relief companies. They would convince victims to send hundreds of personal checks to post office boxes in Portsmouth and Poquoson, which Augustinsky would then collect and deposit. He kept a significant portion of the proceeds for himself and also took a cut for providing his VoIP services to the call center.
Augustinsky was well aware that the calls were making false representations and that many of the victims were elderly. He also made false statements to a credit report company to provide access to his overseas co-conspirator. The scam ultimately led to a federal jury conviction, with Augustinsky found guilty of mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, money laundering, unlawful monetary transactions, and obtaining information under false pretenses.
The conviction is a significant win for law enforcement, who have been working to crack down on telemarketing scams that target vulnerable individuals. The case highlights the importance of vigilance and the need for people to be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls or requests for payment.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Virginia
- Location: VA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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