(Columbus) The Columbus Police Department has made an arrest in a multi-state scam. Officers were contacted by a local bank on October 1st that an 80-year-old woman was there wanting to withdraw $60,000 in cash.
The bank identified this possible transaction as a scam and learned that the victim was following directions of the scammer, who was still on the phone in her car. He told the woman someone was coming to Columbus to pick up the money and he would be there in a few hours.
The victim agreed to assist law enforcement and follow through with the scammer’s directions, saying she had withdrawn the money. Around 8pm that evening, an SUV with Oklahoma plates arrived at a predetermined location to collect the cash, but multiple law enforcement officers arrested the driver. A search of the vehicle revealed $44,100 in cash, all in $100 bills. A laptop computer and cell phone were seized from the vehicle.
Authorities also learned that the driver flew to Iowa, rented a vehicle, and collected $45,000 from a 79-year-old woman. He then drove to Illinois where he collected $54,000 from a 59-year-old woman. He met two men in Illinois and gave them over $50,000 of the cash, before coming to Columbus to collect the $60,000. It was also discovered that in June this same suspect collected $40,000 from an 80-year-old female in Tennessee, whose driver’s license and debit card were found in the suspects possession.
Jay Sureshbhai Prajapati of Atlanta was charged in Columbia County with Receiving/Concealing Stolen Property. The 24-year-old is a resident of India and in the United States on a student Visa. He is being held in the Columbia County Jail on $20,000 cash bond.
