December 20, 2023 – Peel Regional Police Cyber Support Services, along with the Fraud Bureau, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) and U.S. law enforcement agencies, have exposed a heartless cyber scheme that defrauded hundreds of Canadians out of thousands of dollars. This arrest comes after a relentless year-long international manhunt, culminating in charges laid against a 34-year-old mastermind from Brampton.
Jayant Bhatia, a Brampton resident, is the local member of the transnational computer technical support scam which occurred between January 2020 and February 2022, and preyed on vulnerable seniors.
The unsuspecting victims were ensnared through spam phone calls and pop-up ads that mislead them into believing their computers were harboring malicious viruses or malware. Once hooked, call center agents, operating under the deceptive guise of computer saviors, convinced victims to shell out hundreds or even thousands of dollars for fictitious repair services. Some even granted remote access to their computers, unwittingly allowing the scammers to full access to all their digital information.
330 Canadians fell prey to this cyber scam, resulting in fraud losses of over $500,000. The business monikers that were used by the scammers were A2Z Consultants Group Inc., QB Services, and SSS Consultants.
Bhatia is charged with Unauthorized Use of a Computer, Fraud Over $5000, and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.
The scope of this scam extended beyond Brampton, reaching scammers situated in New Delhi, India, as well as in New York and New Jersey. Authorities in India and the United States have laid charges against individuals involved within their respective jurisdictions.
As technology advances, so are the methods employed to scam and exploit individuals. Luckily, the techniques used by law enforcement agencies to catch these scammers are also evolving.
Detective Sergeant Matthew Hutchinson of the Peel Regional Police’s Intelligence Services, Cyber Support, and Digital Forensics Unit warned prospective scammers: “Police will investigate computer scams and fraudulent activities that jeopardize our community’s personal information and digital well-being. We remain committed in our efforts to combat computer scams and online fraud, and we encourage the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.”
Peel Regional Police expressed gratitude to their national and international crime-fighting comrades for their invaluable assistance in unmasking this cyber cabal.
If you possess any information vital to this case, contact the Fraud Bureau at (905) 453–2121, ext. 3335. Alternatively, if you want to remain anonymous, reach out to Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or peelcrimestoppers.ca.
