Two Scammers Arrested for Earning $10 Million from Fake Tech Support Services

The FBI has announced the arrest of two suspects, Romana Leyva and Ariful Haque, who lured victims to fake tech support websites and tricked them into paying for fraudulent “services.” According to investigators, the scammers deceived more than 7,500 people—most of whom were elderly and lacked technical knowledge—and made over $10,000,000 from their scheme.

How the Scam Worked

The fraudsters used a classic technique: they operated malicious websites with fake pop-up warnings that alerted visitors to supposed security issues. These pop-ups frightened victims into believing their computers were infected with malware or had other problems. The victims were urged to call a tech support number, where operators would then pressure them into paying for unnecessary “repairs” and “assistance.”

The cost of these services, disguised as one-time, annual, or lifetime tech support, ranged from several hundred to several thousand U.S. dollars.

Repeat Victimization

Authorities report that some victims were scammed more than once. In some cases, the scammers would call victims back later, claiming that the tech support company they had previously dealt with had gone out of business. The scammers would offer to refund the victims’ money, but would then call again, saying they had accidentally sent too much money (for example, $4,500 instead of $450). They would then ask the victims to return the difference using gift cards.

Investigation and Charges

The indictment states that Leyva and Haque’s fraudulent scheme operated from March 2015 to December 2018. The suspects established shell companies to process their illicit earnings and fraudulent payments, and had several accomplices engaged in similar activities.

Both suspects have been charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The maximum penalty for these charges is up to 20 years in prison.