On August 2, 2024, Vinoth Ponmaran was sentenced to seven years in prison for leading a widespread tech support fraud scheme that defrauded over 6,500 victims of more than $6 million. Announced by Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, this sentencing marks a significant resolution in a case involving extensive financial deceit. The fraudulent scheme, which operated from March 2015 to July 2018, primarily targeted elderly individuals in the U.S. and Canada by using deceptive pop-up warnings to falsely claim their computers were infected with malware.
Ponmaran, who operated from India, managed a call center that was central to the scam. The fraudulent pop-ups urged victims to contact a specific phone number for urgent technical support. Once victims called, they were convinced to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for unnecessary repairs, which typically involved running free antivirus tools while their computers were intentionally made to freeze. The scheme employed fake corporate logos to lend credibility to its operations, further deceiving victims.
Ponmaran was also involved in laundering the fraudulent proceeds. He recruited co-conspirators in the U.S. to establish fake corporate entities and open bank accounts to funnel and disguise the ill-gotten funds. The sentence includes the forfeiture of $6,110,884.51 and three years of supervised release. This case highlights the severe consequences of exploiting vulnerable populations and underscores the commitment of law enforcement to combat sophisticated fraud schemes.
The investigation and prosecution were carried out by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Neff. The New York Office of Homeland Security Investigations’ El Dorado Task Force and the New York City Police Department played crucial roles in uncovering and addressing the fraud. This case reflects a concerted effort to bring justice and protect consumers from financial exploitation.
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