A Gwinnett County jury has convicted 48-year-old Buford resident Fataoumata Keita of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for her role in a computer support scam that prosecutors say bilked dozens of victims out of as much as $1 million. Keita is scheduled to be sentenced in December.
According to Gwinnett County, the scheme began in 2021, when Keita and her co-conspirators contacted people across the United States and Canada, falsely telling them their computers were malfunctioning in order to sell them unnecessary software or technical assistance. The county says the ploy relied on alarming pop-up messages warning victims their devices had been infected with a virus and instructing them to call a 1-800 number for help.
How the Scam Reeled In Victims
Once a victim called that number, the county says, scammers posing as customer service representatives pressured them into buying additional software or services. Victims were then directed to mail checks — often for more than $1,500 — to a United States Postal Service post office box in Buford, with the money eventually funneled to co-conspirators in Canada, China and India, per the county's account.
Gwinnett County says the conspiracy racked up as much as $1 million before it was shut down, with bank accounts tied to Keita accumulating more than $450,000 at one point over roughly a year. As reported by CBS News Atlanta, the scheme targeted seniors across the country.
DA Vows Aggressive Prosecution
Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson did not mince words after the verdict. Taking advantage of citizens using fake computer services is unconscionable, she said, adding that her office will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Austin-Gatson also said preying on senior citizens and targeting seniors will not be tolerated.
Tech-support scams like the one Keita was convicted of participating in have become a persistent threat to older Americans nationwide. ConsumerAffairs reports that Americans age 60 and older were five times more likely than younger adults to report losing money to tech-support scams in 2024, with reported losses totaling $159 million. The outlet also notes that the Federal Trade Commission estimated the true cost of scams targeting older adults that year could range anywhere from $10.1 billion to $81.5 billion, since most fraud goes unreported.
Keita's December sentencing will determine what penalties she faces for the RICO conviction. No additional details about the case's next steps have been released by county officials.
