West Orange Resident Scammed For $400K, Police Make Arrest: WOPD

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Police in West Orange believe they have apprehended the internet scamster who allegedly bilked a local resident out of nearly $400,000, authorities announced Monday.

The arrest was made after an “intensive investigation in a relentless cyber-chase which crossed state lines,” West Orange authorities said.

Here’s what happened, according to a statement from the township’s public information officer:

“This past June, a West Orange resident fell victim to a complicated computer fraud popularly known as the ‘Norton Scam.’ They received an official looking email with a billing statement from ‘Symantec Norton Associates.’ It stated that the Norton Antivirus company was owed money, and that the individual needed to contact the company immediately by telephone. The scammer on the call identified himself as a representative from Paypal and instructed the resident on how to make the payment through his computer by logging into a particular website. Once the resident logged into the website, access to the screen was controlled and manipulated by the unknown caller believed to be company representative. As the resident began to type $300 into a field for an apparent Refund Form on the screen, the unknown caller manipulated the screen and changed the amount to $300,000.”

It got worse from there, authorities said:

“The fraud continued as a HELP LINE telephone number to the resident’s bank showed on the bottom of the screen. The resident then called this number, believing it to be his actual bank, but it was another fraudulent caller pretending to be someone else. The caller on the line, claiming to be a bank employee, convinced the resident that he needed to either wire more money or to purchase gold coins that could be given to the bank representative to fix the issue. Unknown to the resident, every phone call and everything seen on his computer screen were part of an elaborate and complicated fraud. The resident was eventually scammed out of almost $400,000 before contacting the West Orange Police Department.”

“Most scams like these go unsolved because the scammer is able to cloak themselves in the anonymity of cyber space,” the town’s statement continued. “Det. Ryan Funk of the West Orange Police Department however, was not willing to let the scammer get away without a cyber chase on the internet.”

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office subsequently approved charges and extradition for Jaynesh Patel, a 33-year-old resident of Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Patel is currently incarcerated at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, authorities said Monday.

WEST ORANGE POLICE: BEWARE OF SCAMS

The West Orange Police Department “strongly urged” all residents to be aware of these types of scams and report them whenever they occur.

“There are a number of scams that use the Norton brand, including: phishing emails, pop-up warnings, and cold calls,” authorities said. “Fraudulent companies may call Norton customers to offer assistance with virus removal, fixing problems with apps, or renewing a product subscription. Once they gain your trust, they may conduct a remote session on your computer to install their own products.”

To avoid these scams, residents should take some preventative measures, police said:

• Be skeptical of emails, texts, or phone calls from questionable sources
• Do not respond, download attachments, or click on any links in suspicious emails
• Visit the company's official website, Norton.com, for more details
• Report suspicious emails to Norton at spam@norton.com

“While technology advances to prevent such crimes it’s important for everyone stay vigilant by educating themselves on potential threats and taking necessary precautions,” West Orange police said.

“Using secure passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and being skeptical of unsolicited communications are some preventive measures,” authorities suggested. “Ultimately, defeating online scammers requires a combination of awareness, mindful cybersecurity practices, and the relentless pursuit of officers like Det. Funk who are committed to making the internet a safer space for all.”

People who think they are victims of fraud can contact the West Orange police non-emergency line at (973) 325-4000 to report or ask questions. To report all police, fire or medical emergencies, or a crime in progress, call 9-1-1, authorities said.

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