In a shocking development, two Indian students studying in the United States have been sentenced to long-term imprisonment for their involvement in major fraud schemes targeting elderly American citizens. According to the US Department of Justice, the young men operated in separate but similar scams using impersonation and phishing tactics to siphon off millions of dollars from unsuspecting seniors. These cases have once again raised alarms over the exploitation of vulnerable individuals in tech-enabled scams and the increasing role of international students in such crimes.

One of the accused, 20-year-old Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, was sentenced to more than five years in prison after being found guilty of participating in an online phishing ring. Patel impersonated government officials to pressure elderly victims into handing over money and valuables. He was apprehended while attempting to collect what he believed was a package containing $130,000 in cash and jewelry in Granite Shoals, Texas, on August 24, 2024. Authorities reported that Patel has been in federal custody since August 29, and the total estimated loss from the fraud he was involved in stands at $2.69 million, with at least 25 elderly victims falling prey to the scam.

In a separate but equally severe case, another Indian student, Moinuddin Mohammed, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a similar scheme. His scam alone led to losses of nearly $6 million for elderly Americans. Officials noted that both scams followed a disturbing pattern of emotional manipulation, where fraudsters would scare or deceive seniors into believing they owed money or were in legal trouble. These high-profile convictions highlight the urgent need for stronger oversight on student visa holders and enhanced digital literacy among older citizens to prevent further exploitation.