HopCops bust Scammer who stole $10K from Elderly Resident

Chief Joseph Bennett reports that Hopkinton Police Department detectives identified, arrested and charged a New York man who allegedly stole $10,000 from an elderly Hopkinton resident through a well-documented nationwide computer technical support scam.

Minhaj Ismam was Arraigned Thursday afternoon at Framingham District Court on the following charges:

• Larceny from Person 65 or older
• Larceny Over $1,200 by Single Scheme
• Attempted Larceny from +60/Disabled
• Conspiracy

Mr. Ismam is 21 years old and from Jamaica, New York.

On Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 10:43 a.m., Hopkinton Police received a report from a resident who believed they had fallen victim to a scam. The resident reported they had been contacted on Dec. 19 from a person claiming to be a representative of a company that provides computer anti-virus software. The caller allegedly told the resident that he needed to provide a courier with $10,000. The resident also reported that the scammer was able to manipulate his computer, which contained banking information.

The resident paid the courier and then was contacted again the next day with a second payment request.

Hopkinton Police Uniform Division and Detectives worked with the resident and set up a sting, and were able to make contact with the courier, later identified as Ismam.

Officers spoke with Ismam and the driver of the vehicle who dropped Ismam off at the home. The driver was determined to be an Uber driver who was hired to take Ismam from New York to Massachusetts.

Ismam was arrested and taken to Hopkinton Police station for booking. He was Arraigned in Framingham District Court on Thursday morning and is being held on $1,000 cash bail and was ordered to have no contact with the victim.

“This is a great example of our patrol officers and Detective Bureau working together to arrest a criminal targeting the elderly.” Det. Sgt. Scott van Raalten said. “The senior population can be extremely vulnerable to scams, so we ask any resident who feels they may be targeted to call the Department at 508-497-3401.”