The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has successfully dismantled a major India-linked call center operation responsible for defrauding hundreds of elderly Americans and other victims worldwide. The sophisticated tech support scam network illicitly acquired millions of dollars through deceptive practices.
FBI officials announced the crackdown, which also led to guilty pleas from two senior executives accused of facilitating the fraudulent activities through their telecommunications and analytics services. The agency highlighted that tech support scams are among the fastest-growing cyber-enabled frauds in the United States, disproportionately affecting senior citizens.
Key Arrests and Guilty Pleas
Former CEO Adam Young and former Chief Strategy Officer Harrison Gevirtz both pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony. Court documents reveal they operated a telecommunications business that knowingly provided services to customers engaged in tech-support fraud. Their sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2026.
Investigators alleged that Young and Gevirtz failed to monitor their clients despite being aware of numerous fraudulent tech-support campaigns. Furthermore, employees were reportedly directed to market the firm's services specifically to scam operators and, in some cases, connected fraud-linked customers with others who could aid their illegal activities.
Millions Lost to Deceptive Schemes
The FBI reported that Americans collectively lost nearly $2.1 billion to tech-support scams last year alone. In Rhode Island, residents reportedly lost at least $5.7 million to these schemes. Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, condemned the executives' actions, stating they "willfully profited from telemarketing and tech support scammers, here and abroad, who preyed on the elderly, exploited the vulnerable, and drained victims of their life savings and peace of mind."
Docks emphasized the severe human cost of these crimes, noting that "behind every fraudulent call was a real person left frightened, humiliated, or financially shattered." He reaffirmed the FBI's commitment to pursuing individuals and companies that support global scam networks.
Ongoing Battle Against Cybercrime
Tech support scams typically involve fraudsters impersonating legitimate software companies or cybersecurity teams. Victims are then falsely informed their computers or bank accounts have been compromised and are manipulated into transferring money or granting remote access to their devices.
India-based call centers have frequently been a focus in international cybercrime investigations over the past decade. U.S. authorities are increasingly collaborating with Indian agencies to identify and dismantle these cross-border scam operations, urging families to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.