A 21-year-old New York man has been arrested for allegedly scamming an elderly Dartmouth woman out of $86,500. According to the Dartmouth Police Department's Facebook page, Arman Verma of Queens was taken into custody following a joint reverse-sting operation conducted by Dartmouth detectives and the FBI.
The investigation began in last month after the victim reported being contacted by someone claiming to be from “Bank of America” and “Microsoft.” The caller told her that her bank account and computer had been compromised. Following the instructions of the scammer, she handed over cash on five separate occasions to individuals who came to her Dartmouth home, as per the Dartmouth Police Department.
Authorities were alerted when the woman was asked for an additional $30,000. In response, the police set up a sting operation, leading to Verma’s arrest.
Verma is facing multiple charges, including attempt to commit a crime (larceny over $1200 by false pretenses), larceny under $1200, and conspiracy.
The Dartmouth Police Department reminded residents to be cautious of unsolicited calls or requests for money and encouraged the public to report suspicious activity. The investigation remains ongoing, with Detective Kyle Berube as the contact for anyone with additional information.
