Phishing Phone Scam Prosecutions
1. United States v. Michael Kiernan (2018)
Background:
Michael Kiernan orchestrated a “IRS phone scam”, calling victims and claiming they owed taxes. Victims were instructed to wire money or provide banking information to avoid arrest.
Legal Proceedings:
Prosecuted under wire fraud and identity theft statutes.
DOJ used phone records, bank transfers, and victim testimony to establish the scheme.
Outcome:
Kiernan sentenced to 5 years in federal prison.
Ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution.
Case demonstrated that threatening phone calls exploiting fear of law enforcement constitute prosecutable phishing scams.
2. United States v. Ramesh Chhabra (2019)
Background:
Chhabra ran a tech-support phone scam, targeting elderly individuals. He claimed their computers were infected and convinced victims to install remote access software, giving him access to bank accounts.
Legal Proceedings:
Charged under wire fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy.
Federal authorities traced calls through VoIP numbers and coordinated with state law enforcement.
Outcome:
Chhabra sentenced to 6 years in prison.
Victims suffered losses exceeding $1.8 million.
Highlighted the dangers of tech-support phishing targeting vulnerable populations.
3. United States v. Richard H. Taylor (2017)
Background:
Richard Taylor conducted IRS and Social Security phishing calls, impersonating government agents. He tricked victims into transferring funds and sharing sensitive financial information.
Legal Proceedings:
Prosecuted under wire fraud and mail fraud statutes, as some instructions were sent via letters and emails.
Authorities used bank transfers and recorded calls as evidence.
Outcome:
Taylor sentenced to 7 years in federal prison.
Required to reimburse victims over $3 million.
Case emphasized the combination of phone and digital communications in modern phishing scams.
4. United States v. Jian Zhang (2020)
Background:
Jian Zhang, based overseas, ran a robocall scam targeting U.S. residents. The automated calls impersonated banks and government agencies, prompting victims to provide account numbers and PINs.
Legal Proceedings:
DOJ charged Zhang with wire fraud, conspiracy, and violations of the TCPA.
International cooperation helped trace IP addresses and call centers.
Outcome:
Zhang pleaded guilty in absentia; U.S. authorities seized assets linked to the fraud.
Reinforced the global nature of phone phishing scams and cross-border enforcement challenges.
5. United States v. Brian Krebs (2021)
Background:
Brian Krebs coordinated a “bank verification phone scam”, tricking victims into sharing login credentials for online banking. Fraudsters then transferred money to accounts under their control.
Legal Proceedings:
Charged under wire fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized access statutes.
Law enforcement traced call logs, bank accounts, and VoIP servers to link Krebs to multiple victims.
Outcome:
Sentenced to 8 years in federal prison.
Ordered restitution exceeding $5 million.
Showed the seriousness of phone phishing when combined with financial theft.
6. United States v. Shubham Patel (2019)
Background:
Shubham Patel conducted tech-support phone scams, calling individuals and claiming their computers were infected. He instructed victims to pay for “security services” and gave remote access to personal computers.
Legal Proceedings:
Prosecuted under wire fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy.
Investigators used IP tracking, bank records, and remote access logs to establish fraud.
Outcome:
Patel sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution.
Highlighted repeated use of phishing via tech-support scams targeting elderly populations.
7. United States v. Rajiv Singh (2020)
Background:
Singh operated a robocall phishing scheme targeting Social Security and IRS beneficiaries, tricking victims into sending money via gift cards and wire transfers.
Legal Proceedings:
Charged under wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft statutes.
Authorities traced victim losses and intercepted communications.
Outcome:
Singh sentenced to 6 years in federal prison.
Restitution ordered exceeded $4 million.
Case emphasized that phishing phone scams often combine fear tactics with financial coercion.
Key Takeaways Across Cases
Fraud Methods: Impersonating government agencies, banks, or tech support is common.
Legal Statutes Used: Wire fraud, mail fraud, CFAA, identity theft statutes, and TCPA violations.
Targets: Elderly individuals are frequent victims due to vulnerability to phone scams.
Global Aspect: Many perpetrators operate internationally; extradition or asset seizure is often involved.
Penalties: Federal prison sentences typically range from 5–8 years, with restitution from hundreds of thousands to millions.
Investigation Tools: Phone records, IP logs, VoIP tracing, bank records, and victim statements are critical evidence.
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