GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – A Florida man is the latest person sentenced in connection with a scam ring that federal prosecutors say generated $11 million by targeting seniors across the country, including Michigan.

Everette Thibou, 32, of Tampa, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement Thursday.

Federal authorities say the group Thibou was a part of perpetrated a scam that began when victims received pop-up messages saying their computers had a virus. When they called the number provided in the messages, they received people who claimed to be from a well-known company, but were actually scammers in India. The scammers told different stories to scare victims into giving them money: sometimes, they said that victims needed to pay for technical support for the fake virus. Other times, they said that the victims’ bank accounts were compromised and that they should withdraw all their money. Sometimes they said that the victim had been named guilty of a crime and needed to pay to make the accusations go away. Victims were asked to meet in person to give money to so-called federal agents (who were actually more criminal) or funnel the money to scammers via wire transfers or gift cards.

Authorities say 50 people nationwide, most of them elderly, were victims of the scam.

Five other defendants who investigators say collected money from victims were previously sentencedincluding a New York man who authorities say received nearly $400,000 from a woman in Lake County, Michigan, and a flint woman.

Two convicted of $11 million fraud

Authorities say they are still searching for a seventh suspect: Pragneshbhai M. Patel, of Amityville, New York. An arrest warrant was issued for him last year.

“The victims in this case suffered anxiety, fear, humiliation, and devastating financial loss,” U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said in a statement Thursday. “The defendants were ruthless, preying on the elderly and often re-victimizing their victims. They didn’t care that they were robbing vulnerable elderly people; the only thing they cared about was making money. In this case and in the future, we are committed to holding scammers accountable, especially when they target vulnerable members of our communities.”

He FBI Elder Fraud Website has information on how to identify and avoid scams. If you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, call the Senior Fraud Hotline at 1.833.FRAUD.11 (372.8311) between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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