WASHINGTON – It can be a frightening call to get.
Callers posing as tax and immigration agents are threatening arrest, deportation or other punishment unless money is sent to help clear up what they say is a deportation warrant or to cover unpaid income taxes.
The government says it's a scam — one that's tricked at least 15,000 people into shelling out more than $300 million.
Now the Justice Department has charged 61 defendants in the United States and abroad in connection with a call center operation that officials say is based in India.
Three people from the Houston area were charged: Rajesh Bhatt, 52, of Sugar Land; Sunny Joshi, 46, of Sugar Land; and Nilesh Pandya, 53, of Stafford.
The Justice Department said Bhatt and Joshi were domestic managers at Call Mantra, while Pandya was a runner at Call Mantra. Thursday afternoon, nobody answered the door at the homes of Bhatt and Pandya, but federal agents could be seen walking in and out of Joshi’s house with several boxes.
File: Telefraud Scheme Defendants and Roles
“I think if you want money, then go get a job instead of taking money from hard-working people,” said Linda Gates, who lives near Joshi.
Many in the area were shocked to learn of their neighbor’s possible involvement in the crime.
"The city of Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the world. We have representatives from all over the globe who reside in Houston and they're extremely vulnerable to this kind of activity. And we're extremely proud that the indictment was brought within our district," Kenneth Magidson, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, said.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell says authorities served nine warrants in eight states and arrested 20 people in the international fraud and money laundering investigation. The case includes five call center groups.
Caldwell says the scam targeted the elderly and minorities, and extorted thousands of dollars from victims at a time. She says the money was laundered with the help of prepaid debit cards.