The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) recently arrested two suspects linked to carrier scams. In the two cases, the victims handed over large amounts money and gold bars to scammers posing as carriers.
In the first case, detectives arrested 25-year-old Parmveer Parmveer of Grove City, Ohio. He’s charged in connection with a scam that originated as a pop-up alert on the victim’s laptop urging the victims to contact Apple security using a number provided. Multiple scammers communicated with the victims by posing as security personnel and also a representative from the Federal Trade Commission. The scammers convinced the victims their money was not secure and to withdraw cash from their bank account and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM. The scammers also convinced the victims to take out more money and purchase gold from a local dealer. Scammers arranged for a carrier to pick up the gold from the victim’s home multiple times. FCU detectives were able to arrest Parmveer when he went to the home for one of the arranged pickups. The victims in this case were defrauded of nearly $700,000 dollars in cash and gold bars.
In a similar, but unrelated case, detectives charged 47-year-old Gyoung Lee of Flushing, New York. This case also began when the victim received a pop-up on his computer advising him to contact Microsoft Support to discuss a security issue using a provided number. The scammers posed as a tech support agent as well as a representative from the US Treasury Department. In order to secure his money, the victim was convinced to make multiple cash withdrawals from his bank account and to then hand over the money to a carrier who picked up the cash from his home. FCU investigators arrested Lee when he arrived at the victim’s home to pick up cash. This victim lost $60,000 to the scammers.
The PGPD reminds all residents to never give money, gold, gift cards or anything else of value to someone you do not know, even if they are posing as representatives from legitimate businesses, banking institutions or government agencies. If you are worried about security issues on your computer, contact the company managing your software directly or your anti-virus software company. You should also contact your bank if necessary using the number on the back of your bank card.
If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, please call us. PGPD detectives can be reached at 301-516-1464.
Anyone with information who wants to contact Crime Solvers may call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) You can remain anonymous.
If you would prefer to translate this release into another language, please find the translation window on the right side of this webpage. Please select your preferred language from the available list.
Parmveer Parmveer
In the first case, detectives arrested 25-year-old Parmveer Parmveer of Grove City, Ohio. He’s charged in connection with a scam that originated as a pop-up alert on the victim’s laptop urging the victims to contact Apple security using a number provided. Multiple scammers communicated with the victims by posing as security personnel and also a representative from the Federal Trade Commission. The scammers convinced the victims their money was not secure and to withdraw cash from their bank account and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM. The scammers also convinced the victims to take out more money and purchase gold from a local dealer. Scammers arranged for a carrier to pick up the gold from the victim’s home multiple times. FCU detectives were able to arrest Parmveer when he went to the home for one of the arranged pickups. The victims in this case were defrauded of nearly $700,000 dollars in cash and gold bars.
Gyoung Lee
In a similar, but unrelated case, detectives charged 47-year-old Gyoung Lee of Flushing, New York. This case also began when the victim received a pop-up on his computer advising him to contact Microsoft Support to discuss a security issue using a provided number. The scammers posed as a tech support agent as well as a representative from the US Treasury Department. In order to secure his money, the victim was convinced to make multiple cash withdrawals from his bank account and to then hand over the money to a carrier who picked up the cash from his home. FCU investigators arrested Lee when he arrived at the victim’s home to pick up cash. This victim lost $60,000 to the scammers.
The PGPD reminds all residents to never give money, gold, gift cards or anything else of value to someone you do not know, even if they are posing as representatives from legitimate businesses, banking institutions or government agencies. If you are worried about security issues on your computer, contact the company managing your software directly or your anti-virus software company. You should also contact your bank if necessary using the number on the back of your bank card.
If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, please call us. PGPD detectives can be reached at 301-516-1464.
Anyone with information who wants to contact Crime Solvers may call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) You can remain anonymous.
If you would prefer to translate this release into another language, please find the translation window on the right side of this webpage. Please select your preferred language from the available list.