Two New Jersey brothers are facing charges for allegedly orchestrating a financial scam that preyed on elderly women, with victims ranging in age from 76 to 90. Abhishek Barvalia, 31, and Tushar Barvalia, 32, of Rutherford, have been indicted on charges, including second-degree grand larceny and first-degree scheme to defraud, as detailed in a press release from the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office.
"These defendants allegedly targeted some of the most vulnerable members of our communities to steal the nest eggs they had carefully built up over many years," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez stated in the release. The alleged scam involved impostors posing as government or bank officials and telling seniors that their bank accounts had been compromised. Victims in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and even Connecticut were reportedly coerced into withdrawing nearly $400,000 collectively. The scheme relied on computer pop-up alerts and phone calls that demanded urgent action and secrecy, as per the Brooklyn DA's Office.
According to the Brooklyn DA's Office, the scams occurred between June 2023 and January 2024 with varying deceptive narratives. One victim was contacted by a so-called FBI agent who claimed her information was being used for illegal activities and that she should secure her savings by transferring them into accounts "controlled by the U.S. government." Another was told by someone purporting to be from the Federal Trade Commission that her accounts were under threat from hackers, prompting her to send $70,000. The scams also involved fake banking representatives and false security risks, all geared toward convincing these seniors to unknowingly send their funds towards the perpetrators.
The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office also provided some guidelines on how to avoid falling prey to such financial schemes. They warn citizens to be skeptical of unsolicited warnings popping up on computers, suggesting hacked bank accounts, and urging immediate phone calls to unknown numbers. "DO NOT give your bank account information or PIN number to anyone who calls you and claims to be a federal agent or banker. End the call immediately," the advice reads. Senior citizens, in particular, are advised to discuss any unusual contacts requesting money or information with family members or local bank managers, despite any requests for confidentiality from the callers.
Both defendants were released without bail and are scheduled to appear in court on October 22. Their case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Andrew Kohler, Special Counsel to the DA's Investigations Division, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Frank Ungerer, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division. The DA's office extended thanks to its investigative team, acknowledging the essential roles of Detective Investigators, the supervising Financial Investigator Susan Ryan, Intelligence Analyst Veranika Basak, and Paralegal Jezebel Negrete-Ugaz for their efforts in the case.
