Gloucester Twp Senior Scammed Out Of $37K, Police Say

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ - A Maryland man was charged in connection with an elderly scam that defrauded an elderly Gloucester Township victim out of around $37,000, authorities said.

Akul Tewary, 31, of Silver Spring, MD, was charged Wednesday with one count of impersonation, theft of identity and theft, according to a statement from Gloucester Township police. He was processed and released pending his first court appearance.

The charges stem from an April 17 scam report from the elderly victim, who resides on Orchard Avenue in the Somerdale section of the township. At the scene, police determined that an unknown suspect placed a virus and locked the victim’s personal computer, with the suspect portraying himself as an employee of Microsoft Security, a Security Specialist from PNC Bank, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Treasury Department.

Tewary reportedly told the victim that he could protect the victim’s personal bank accounts for a specified amount in Bitcoin cryptocurrency and Walmart gift cards. He also made arrangements to have the victim provide him with $30,000 in cash over a week.

The suspect was then contacted by police who were posing as the victim, who then arranged for another cash delivery coordinated for the suspect to pick up at the victim’s home.

When the suspect arrived at the victim’s home, officers detained the suspect for further investigation.

“The elderly lose billions a year to scammers, and you may be at a loss on how to protect them,” Gloucester Township police said in a statement. “All this is made easier for the scammers if you live elsewhere, unable to run interference on incoming phone calls, emails and mailed letters from con artists. Giving your parents stern warnings or demanding power of attorney to control their finances may seem like the way to go, but often those tactics come with nasty emotional fallout.”

For more information about elder fraud or other scams, contact the Gloucester Township Police Community Relations Bureau at 856-228-4011 or email communityrelations@gtpolice.com.