Edison Woman Among 6 Charged In Transnational Tech Support Scam

EDISON, NJ — A woman from Edison was charged in connection with a transnational tech support scam that targeted over 20,000 people in the U.S. and Canada, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Friday.

Meghna Kumar, 50, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, by videoconference to information charging her with engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, based on her role in the scheme, Sellinger said.

Kumar was charged along with Gagan Lamba, 41, and Harshad Madaan, 34, both of New Delhi, India; Jayant Bhatia, 33, of Ontario, Canada; Vikash Gupta, 33, of Faridabad, India and Kulwinder Singh, 34, of Richmond Hill, New York.

Lamba, Madaan, Bhatia and Gupta were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and substantive violations of wire fraud and computer fraud. Lamba, Madaan, Bhatia, and Singh are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Bhatia has been charged with offenses related to his participation in a high-tech fraud scheme.

Most of the people targeted in the scam were elderly, Sellinger said.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from 2012 through November 2022, the defendants operated a technical support fraud scheme in the U.S., India, and Canada that targeted victims including many New Jersey residents.

Their aim was to trick people into believing that their personal computers were infected with a virus or malware and then convince them to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for phony computer repair services, according to court documents. The fraud generated more than $10 million, Sellinger said.

“They frequently preyed upon senior citizens and scared them into paying for unnecessary and useless computer repair services. Working with our partners here and abroad, we will remain vigilant in protecting our citizens from these kinds of schemes,” Sellinger said.

Wire fraud and computer fraud charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Money laundering charges carry a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. The transacting in criminal proceeds charges carry a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com