SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A man living in Toledo has been arrested after reportedly scamming an elderly Michigan couple out of $50,000.
According to authorities, the Shelby Township couple received an email claiming they had fraudulent charges on their credit card for buying child pornography. The couple reportedly was told to withdraw $50,000 from their bank account and give it to a man claiming to be from the Treasury Department, with a warning not to disclose the situation to anyone.
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The Shelby Township Police Department was able to identify the suspect as 25-year-old Vedantkumar Bhupenbhai Patel. Police said Patel is not a citizen and was in Toledo on a student visa. He reportedly sent the $50,000 to India and has attempted to defraud others.
Patel is under investigation in other scam cases.
He was taken into custody on April 30 in Toledo and was extradited to Michigan. On May 5, Patel was charged with larceny of $20,000 or more and false pretenses -- $50,000 or more but less than $100,000.
Patel’s bond was set at $100,000 cash surety.