Scammers targeting older Americans are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and a Georgia case that resulted in a 14-year federal prison sentence this week offers a sobering reminder of why families should talk with elderly relatives and friends about financial fraud.
A 90-year-old victim was allegedly convinced that their identity had been stolen and was being used for fraudulent activity. The people offering to help claimed to be federal agents. By the time the scheme was uncovered, federal prosecutors say the victim had lost nearly $887,000.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, members of the conspiracy led the victim to believe their identity had been stolen and used for fraudulent purposes. The scammers posed as agents with the Federal Trade Commission, convincing the victim that purchasing cryptocurrency and gold would protect the victim’s assets. Instead, prosecutors say the money and gold went to the scammers.
Javed Ashiq, 52, of Decatur, served as a courier in the operation from July to August 2024, according to federal prosecutors. He picked up gold bars and cash from the victim and delivered the assets to other members of the conspiracy.
Additional reporting from WRDW shows just how far the scheme allegedly progressed. Ashiq was arrested by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in July 2024 while investigators said he was traveling to meet the 90-year-old victim in connection with approximately $241,000 in gold bullion.Elder fraud
Columbia County court records also show Ashiq faced state charges that included exploitation/intimidation of an elder person and an offense related to unlawful telemarketing, internet or home-repair activities, along with two controlled-substance possession charges.
Ashiq ultimately pleaded guilty in federal court to Wire Fraud Conspiracy. On Wednesday, Oct. 7, U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen sentenced him to 168 months — 14 years — in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $886,799.84 in restitution.
There is no parole in the federal system, and prosecutors say Ashiq will be processed for deportation after completing his prison sentence.
While the prison sentence is significant, the case also carries a warning that reaches far beyond the courtroom. Today’s scams can be far more sophisticated than an obvious suspicious email or a stranger simply asking for a Social Security number. Criminals may impersonate federal agents, law enforcement officers, banks, utility companies or other trusted organizations. They may know enough personal information about a potential victim to make their story sound convincing. And they frequently create fear and urgency, telling victims that their bank accounts, identity or savings are in immediate danger. That pressure is designed to keep the victim from stopping long enough to question what is happening or call someone they trust.
There is one particularly important lesson from this case: A legitimate federal agency is not going to tell someone to buy gold or cryptocurrency and hand it to a courier in order to keep their money safe.
Families can help by having these conversations before a suspicious phone call ever comes.
Encourage elderly parents, grandparents, relatives, neighbors and friends to make one simple rule: Before sending a large amount of money, purchasing cryptocurrency or gold, withdrawing cash, buying gift cards or giving money or valuables to a stranger, call someone you trust first.
They should also be suspicious anytime someone claiming to represent the government tells them to act immediately, keep a transaction secret or avoid discussing it with family members. Taking a few minutes to make that phone call could protect savings accumulated over an entire lifetime.
U.S. Attorney Margaret E. “Meg” Heap called the tactics used in the case “ruthless,” saying scammers impersonated the very agencies that are supposed to protect senior citizens. The FBI, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Sandy Springs Police Department investigated the case.
Anyone with information about elder financial abuse can report it through the FBI’s official tips portal. The U.S. Department of Justice also provides information for victims and families through its Elder Justice Initiative.
The following is the full press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia:
Pakistani national sentenced to 14 years in prison for scheme to defraud elderly victim
For Immediate Release
AUGUSTA, Georgia: A Pakistani man living in Decatur has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to a wire fraud scheme.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Javed Ashiq, 52, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to 168 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $886,799.84 after pleading guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy. Ashiq will be processed for deportation upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
As described in court documents and testimony, from July to August 2024, Ashiq acted as a courier for the conspiracy, in which he picked up gold bars and cash from the victim and delivered it to co-conspirators. He and his co-conspirators devised a scheme in which they led a victim to believe that their identity had been stolen and used for fraudulent purposes.
In doing so, Ashiq and his co-conspirators posed as federal agents with the Federal Trade Commission and convinced the victim to purchase cryptocurrency and gold to protect their assets. After the assets were purchased, Ashiq would take the assets to his co-conspirators leaving the victim empty handed.
“This case highlights the ruthless tactics scammers use to exploit senior citizens, including impersonating the very agencies meant to protect them,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We hope this significant sentence provides some measure of justice for the victim and serves as a stark warning to others. We remain fully committed to dismantling elder fraud networks and ensuring that those who rob seniors of their financial security are taken off our streets.”
If you are or have information about victims of elder financial abuse, visit: www.tips.fbi.gov/home or www.justice.gov/elderjustice/financial-exploitation.
“Defrauding an elderly victim of their life savings through deception and impersonation is reprehensible,” said Matthew Ploskunak, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Augusta office. “This sentence holds the defendant accountable for his role in exploiting a vulnerable victim, and the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue working to identify and dismantle the criminal networks behind these elder fraud schemes.”
This case was investigated by the FBI, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sandy Springs Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon.
Contact
For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.
