A 27-year-old Hyderabad native, Venkateswara Chagamreddy, has been convicted in the United States for his role in a fraud scheme that targeted an elderly Vietnam War veteran in Delaware County.
According to investigators, the scam began in August 2025 when the 79-year-old victim contacted what he believed was Microsoft technical support.
He was falsely informed that criminal activity had been detected on his computer and that a federal officer would reach out to assist him.
Soon after, another individual called the victim posing as a federal officer, provided a fake badge number, and claimed that the victim’s identity had been used in serious crimes.
The fraudster warned that the victim was under investigation and needed to secure his assets.
The victim was then instructed to convert his savings into gold and hand it over to a supposed government representative for safekeeping. Trusting the instructions, he complied and handed over a substantial quantity of gold.
When the fraudsters contacted him again seeking more funds, the victim consulted a family member, who recognised the scam and alerted authorities.
During a controlled operation, Chagamreddy arrived to collect another package and was arrested.
At the time of his arrest, officials recovered $500 in cash, a mobile phone, and 23 ounces of gold from his vehicle.
Investigators said Chagamreddy acted as a courier in a larger fraud network. He allegedly travelled across states to collect gold from victims and deliver it to co-conspirators.
Evidence showed he maintained constant communication with associates, sharing updates on locations, movements, and even fuel levels.
In one instance, he reportedly flew from Austin to North Carolina to collect gold from another elderly victim before passing it on to a co-conspirator.
Following his arrest, Chagamreddy told authorities that he was in the US on a student visa and faced deportation after being suspended from his college.
He claimed he had recently travelled to enrol in another institution and was carrying the gold at the time of his return.
The case highlights the growing threat of tech-support and impersonation scams, particularly targeting elderly individuals.