Portage Man Charged With International Telemarketing Fraud That Targeted Elderly Victims

The scheme operated for years and victimized seniors across the United States

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced an indictment charging Irfan Gill, 62, of Portage, Michigan, with 7 counts of mail fraud and 11 counts of money laundering.  The indictment alleges that beginning as early as June 2018, and continuing through at least March 2022, Gill worked with a call center in Pakistan as part of a telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across the United States. 

          “As we have alleged, defendant Irfan Gill ran an international network to exploit America’s seniors,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “These scams are not going away and so we need to remain vigilant. Be cautious when you receive an unsolicited contact or offer. Resist the pressure to act quickly. Never send personally identifiable information or anything of value to unverified people or businesses. Combatting elder fraud and abuse is a top priority for my Office and we will continue to hold perpetrators accountable, whether at home or abroad.”

          VIDEO: U.S. Attorney Totten’s remarks concerning the case can be viewed here.

          Gill faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of a telemarketing fraud that targeted or victimized 10 or more people over the age of 55.  He faces up to 20 years in prison for the money laundering charges in the indictment.

          According to allegations in the indictment, Gill claimed to operate several businesses: Cable Upgrade; D Network; D Tech; Direct Network; Dish; Dish Upgrade; and Sky Satellite.  Telephone solicitors at a call center in Pakistan cold-called victims with offers of equipment upgrades, software upgrades, and subscription discounts for their cable television, satellite television, and internet services.  While the businesses did not actually provide any of those services, callers instructed victims to send payments to Gill’s post office boxes in Portage.  Gill deposited victims’ payments in his bank accounts.  Gill tracked victims’ payments and used money transfer services like Remitly and Western Union to pay a portion of the proceeds to the telephone solicitors in Pakistan.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office presently believes that the scheme victimized over 1,400 people nationwide.

          “Postal Inspectors are dedicated to safeguarding the well-being and security of the American public, with a particular focus on protecting the elderly and vulnerable individuals, from fraudulent schemes,” said Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins of the Detroit Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Today’s indictment serves as a stark reminder of the exploitation tactics employed by criminals who prey on the elderly and other susceptible individuals through deceptive telemarketing schemes, with the sole intention of extracting as much money as possible and, in some cases, causing irreversible financial damage to their victims. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains resolute in its mission to vigorously investigate and apprehend those responsible for perpetrating these telemarketing scams, thereby putting an end to their illicit activities.”

          The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are working to identify other individuals, nationwide, who may have been victimized by sending payments to the post office boxes listed below for any of the listed businesses:

Post Office Boxes

P.O. Box 122, Portage, Michigan 49024

P.O. Box 404, Portage, Michigan 49024

P.O. Box 421, Portage, Michigan 49024

P.O. Box 482, Portage, Michigan 49024

P.O. Box 1164, Portage, Michigan 49024

P.O. Box 1562, Portage, Michigan 49024

Businesses

Cable Upgrade

D Network

D Tech

Direct Network

Dish

Dish Upgrade

Sky Satellite

          If you believe you are a victim in this case, please visit this page or contact Kathy Schuette, Victim Coordinator, at (616) 808-2034.

          Federal law enforcement provides a number of tips on how to protect yourself from telemarketing scams, including:

1. Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, e-mails, and mailings.
2. Never give or send any sensitive information (including your date of birth, account numbers, or passwords), credit or debit card numbers, or money to unverified people or businesses.
3. Resist the pressure to act quickly.  Scammers create a false sense of urgency to lure people to immediate action. 
4. If you recognize a scam attempt, immediately end all communication with the perpetrator.

          This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Townshend is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

          The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law

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