Jury Convicts Portage Man Of International Telemarketing Fraud That Targeted Elderly Victims

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Irfan Gill, 62, of Portage, Michigan, was convicted by a jury of 7 counts of mail fraud and 11 counts of money laundering. Gill was previously indicted for working with a call center in Pakistan, from as early as June 2018 through at least March 2022, as part of a telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across the United States.

          “Mr. Gill ran a multi-year, international telemarketing scam targeting American citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Today’s conviction secures a measure of justice for his unsuspecting victims. Fighting elder fraud and abuse is a priority for my Office and we will continue to hold perpetrators accountable, whether here in the U.S. or abroad.”

          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 believes the scheme victimized over 1,400 people nationwide.              

          Gill faces up to 30 years in prison on the mail fraud charges because the jury found that he committed 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. The date of sentencing has not yet been scheduled but typically occurs within three to four months after conviction in federal court.

          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 was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Townshend and Stephen Baker tried the case on behalf of the United States.

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Media Note: The previous press release and video from U.S. Attorney Mark Totten can be found viewed at the following link Portage Man Charged With International Telemarketing Fraud That Targeted Elderly Victims