Several Indian students who were enrolled in the United States have been found guilty and incarcerated for being part of fraud scams targeting senior citizens, which has become a trend that law enforcement officials are paying attention to. Indian Students in US Jailed for Running Senior Citizen Fraud Scheme.

How the Scam Worked
The scam entailed impersonating U.S. government officials usually through telephone calls or emails. To intimidate elderly people into thinking their accounts were hijacked. Victims were bullied into withdrawing money, buying gold, or sending a large amount of money under false circumstances. Scammers usually met in person the people where they took their money or valuables

How the Scam Worked

Two Indian student-nationals, 24-year-olds who were pursuing studies at East-West University in Chicago. They were arrested for cheating an elderly person into sending money through cryptocurrency ATM and delivering gold in cash

21-year-old Kishan Kumar Singh, residing in the vicinity of Cincinnati on a student visa since 2024. He was arrested in North Carolina for impersonating a federal agent to cheat a 78-year-old woman

25-year-old Vedantkumar Bhupenbhai Patel, also in the United States on a student visa. Allegedly fraudulently ripped off a Michigan couple for $50,000 by threatening them with false child-pornography allegations unless they dispensed cash

Indian Students in US Jailed

Federal courts have put the defendants behind bars for prison sentences between months and several years, highlighting the extent of victimizing vulnerable citizens. The cases come after warnings from U.S. officials and recent FBI notifications regarding scams against the elderly.

Wider Context: Model Minority Myth Under Scrutiny
These high-profile cases of student visa holders involved in fraud are counter to the “model minority” stereotype which Indian students have too often been pegged with. Commentary points out that although the majority of international students work and study diligently, such cases starkly bring to mind the temptations and pressures others might be subjected to

Visa Impacts and Community Effects
Convictions for non-violent fraud in aggravating circumstances nearly always lead to visa revocation, deportation, and prohibition from re-returning to the U.S. Such legal violations also jeopardize the reputation of the larger community, impacting subsequent visa applications for numerous otherwise law‑abiding students

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