Citizen Of India Conspired To Target Rhode Island Senior Citizens: Feds

A citizen of India conspired to target Rhode Island senior citizens, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Samyag Uday Doshi, 25, was living in Dorchester, Massachusetts, on a student visa when he was detained on a federal criminal complaint charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a media release.

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"It is alleged that he participated in a scheme that caused a Rhode Island resident to turn over $54,000 in cash, with an attempted loss amount totaling more than $385,000," the release said.

A Newport resident contacted authorities after receiving a voicemail "regarding a phony purchase," according to the release.

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The man was "instructed to call a telephone number provided to him to address the issue," the release said.

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"When he called the number, scammers falsely told him that he was speaking with a federal official and was under investigation for a myriad of charges, including money laundering," according to the release.

"The scammers represented that they could assist the individual through the investigation," the release said, and over the next several weeks, the "scammers directed the individual to make multiple cash withdrawals of tens of thousands of dollars and to then mail the funds out of state or provide the funds to 'couriers,' whom he met in person in Rhode Island."

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The senior also made multiple inquiries about "purchasing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of gold bars," according to the release. "These inquiries are believed to have been directed by members of the conspiracy."

On Nov. 17, the scammers attempted to set up a meeting where the senior citizen would hand over another $45,000 in cash, the release said, but he called the law and Doshi was arrested at the spot of the rendezvous.

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