CLEVELAND, Ohio - One of three suspects accused of cheating a 77-year-old Salem man out of $61,000 and half a dozen other alleged victims as part of a phony computer repair scam has been scheduled for a change of plea hearing, an indication he may be working toward an agreement with federal prosecutors.

Yash Raval, who was arrested in November 2023 while picking up cash from the alleged Salem victim, is scheduled for a change of plea hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 17. The development was revealed in a recent status conference for him and his two co-defendants, Shreyas Baldevbhai Chaudhary and Trusha Chaudhary, in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.

During a recent status conference in court, Raval’s attorney told the judge she planned to withdraw two pending motions and requested that a change of plea hearing be scheduled for her client.

The two other defendants, Shreyas Chaudhary and Trusha Chaudhary, remain in plea negotiations, according to their attorneys. The court granted a continuance for the case until Oct. 20 to allow their attorneys more time.

Alleging that the trio used fear and deception to gain control of a victim's assets, the indictment describes the operation as an "India-based Call Center Scam," which the FBI characterizes as a $4.8 million elder fraud scheme targeting a half-dozen victims across the United States.

According to court documents, the scheme involved a sophisticated operation in which victims were tricked into believing their computers had been hacked and their identities stolen. They were then pressured to send large sums of money to individuals posing as representatives of Microsoft or their financial institutions.

Shreyas Chaudhary allegedly used a messaging account opened with an email address linked to a cloud account containing the victim’s identifying information.

The affidavit details a scheme in which victims received pop-up ads claiming their computers had been hacked. Victims were then instructed to call fake Microsoft support numbers and send money or gold bars to couriers.

The affidavit identifies the alleged Salem victim only as J.B., a 77-year-old widower. In October 2023, J.B. clicked on a pop-up advertisement that froze his computer and directed him to call a phone number for "Microsoft Security." He spoke to an individual using the alias "Howard," who claimed J.B.'s computer had been hacked.

J.B. was then connected with a person named "Stacy Brown," who claimed to be from his financial institution. Brown told J.B. he was a victim of identity theft and needed to send money. Over two days, J.B. allegedly purchased about $11,000 in gift cards and texted photos of them to Brown.

Brown then instructed J.B. to withdraw about $61,000 in cash from his bank account. J.B. packed the cash and was told to wait on his driveway for a driver. He waited for about 10 to 15 minutes before a black Sport Utility Vehicle pulled up. After exchanging a password with the driver, J.B. placed the package containing the cash inside the vehicle.

A few days later, on Oct. 25, 2023, Brown allegedly instructed J.B. to withdraw an additional $50,000. When J.B. went to his bank, a representative, suspecting elderly abuse, contacted the FBI. The FBI then met with J.B. and arranged a controlled delivery of $50,000 in controlled funds to the next person who would arrive to pick up the money.

The affidavit states that on Nov. 7, 2023, J.B. received a phone call from an individual using the name "Frankie," who claimed to be Brown's supervisor. A blue Hyundai Elantra with Pennsylvania license plates arrived in front of J.B.'s residence. Frankie instructed J.B. to place the package with the controlled funds in the car, which J.B. did.

After the car left, members of the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office stopped the vehicle, and the driver was identified as Yash Raval. Raval was interviewed by the FBI and gave consent to search his car and phone.

During his interviews, Raval said he was instructed by a person using the alias "Al Capone" to pick up packages from victims. Raval communicated with this individual through an encrypted messaging application.

Raval told investigators that "Al Capone" would give him an address to pick up packages containing U.S. currency or gold bars. After picking up a package, Raval would drive to his residence in Erie, Pennsylvania, where another individual would pick up the package. Raval stated he knew the package from the Salem victim contained cash.

Six victims were identified with total losses exceeding $4.8 million. In addition to two people from Ohio, there are also victims from California, New York, Maryland, and New York.

An alleged co-conspirator, Trusha Chaudhary (no relation), was previously caught picking up a package containing $11,000 from a victim in Illinois.

Trusha Chaudhary worked under numerous aliases, fourteen of which were on phony California driver’s licenses, according to investigators.

 

 

The FBI obtained evidence through controlled deliveries of marked funds and consent searches of phones and email accounts.

Authorities say Shreyas came to the United States in July 2023, falsely answering "no" to a question about involvement in money laundering on a visa application.

All three individuals are charged with money laundering.

The recent court proceedings indicate that the case is moving forward with the possibility of pleas from the defendants. The next status conference for Shreyas Chaudhary and Trusha Chaudhary is set for Oct. 20.

Protecting yourself

The Federal Trade Commission warns about scams involving fake technical support calls, emails, and pop-up messages.

The scam begins with unexpected contact, often a phone call or a pop-up on a computer screen. The message claims there is a serious problem with the user’s computer. The scammers, who may pretend to be from well-known technology companies, use technical language to make the situation seem urgent and real.

In some cases, the scammers ask the user to open certain files or run a scan. They then claim that these actions reveal a problem that does not exist. Their goal is to get money or access to sensitive information.

According to the FTC, the scammers may then ask for remote access to the computer, which can give them control over all data on the device and connected networks. They might also attempt to sell bogus maintenance programs or install malicious software. Other tactics include asking for credit card information for worthless services or directing users to websites that collect personal and financial data.

The FTC advises businesses to be cautious. If a company receives an unsolicited call about a computer problem, the FTC recommends hanging up. The agency notes that these scammers often use fake caller ID to make the number appear local or legitimate.

Pop-up messages warning about computer issues should be ignored. If there is concern about a virus, the FTC suggests contacting a security software company directly using a verified phone number from the company’s website or product packaging.

The FTC also advises against giving passwords or remote access to anyone who contacts a business unexpectedly.

For those who have been affected by the scam, the FTC recommends changing any compromised passwords and removing any malware. If the affected computer is part of a larger network, the entire network should be checked for potential intrusions. The agency also suggests contacting credit card companies to reverse any fraudulent charges.