'Phantom Hacker Scam' money laundering, Brookfield man charged
Federal Courthouse in downtown Milwaukee
BROOKFIELD, Wis. - A Brookfield man is charged in what federal prosecutors described as a "Phantom Hacker Scam" money laundering scheme. The charges were announced Tuesday.
Money laundering charges
Local perspective:
A federal grand jury's indictment charges 41-year-old Ankurkumar Patel with one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of substantive money laundering.
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Federal prosecutors said Patel and others conspired to launder more than $1 million from elderly victims in multiple states – including a Sheboygan victim of a "Phantom Hacker Scam."
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What is a Phantom Hacker Scam?
Dig deeper:
A Phantom Hacker Scam is a type of fraud that primarily targets elderly victims, according to federal prosecutors. Participants pose as customer service agents with a company or government agency and falsely claim the victim's identity or back account has been hacked or compromised.
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The fraudster then refers the victim to a co-conspirator, prosecutors said, who poses as a law enforcement agent and directs the victim to move money – usually in the form of cash or physical gold – to a third-party or government account for safe keeping. The co-conspirator then coordinates the transfer of funds to other participants in the scheme who act as couriers.
What you can do:
If you believe you or someone you know may have fallen victim to a similar scam, call the FBI at 414-276-4684.
The Source: FOX6 News referenced information from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.