State police say a year-long investigation has led to the arrest of a New Jersey man accused of stealing half a million dollars from a Tompkins County resident in a phone scam targeting seniors.
Akash B. Thakkar, 41, of Hiawatha, NJ, is charged with second-degree grand larceny, a felony, after allegedly collecting $250,000 in gold bars from a scam victim last August. The same victim had been coerced into handing over another $250,000 in gold two months earlier.
Victim tricked into handing over gold
According to New York State Police, scammers often pose as Amazon representatives claiming a suspicious purchase has been made. Once the victim denies the charge, they’re told their identity and Social Security number have been stolen.
From there, the call is transferred to someone pretending to be with a bank or credit union, who urges the victim to withdraw large sums of money — or buy gold bars — for “safekeeping.” A fake courier then picks up the valuables directly from the victim’s home.
Police say that’s exactly what happened in this case. Troopers with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation eventually identified Thakkar as the person who picked up the gold in August 2024.
A Tompkins County Grand Jury indicted Thakkar on September 24. He was arrested on October 8 and arraigned at the county jail.
Scam warning for families and caregivers
State police are urging the public to talk to seniors and vulnerable neighbors about these scams. Victims are often convinced they’re protecting their finances — and may never realize they’ve been tricked until it’s too late.
“This is a scam. Please do not fall for it,” police said in the announcement. “Hang up and call a trusted family member.”
Investigators say arrests in these cases are rare because scammers often operate from outside the area or use couriers who are hard to identify.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.
