The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday announced the arrest of Tulasi Timsina for allegedly defrauding an elderly couple of nearly $270,000 over more than a year. Timsina is reported by the sheriff’s office to be a citizen of Nepal who is in the United States on a Green Card.
According to a press release posted to the sheriff’s social media, Timsina is alleged to have begun contact with an elderly couple after a female victim received a pop-up on her computer that instructed her to call a number purporting to be Microsoft technical support.
The apparently fictitious person who answered the credulous phone number reportedly advised the victim to contact her bank, and the sheriff’s office stated that the number on the back of her debit card was spoofed, and redirected
The sheriff’s office stated that the number on the back of the victim’s debit card was then spoofed and redirected to an individual purporting to be an individual named Josh Campbell, who told the victims that their bank accounts were under investigation for child pornography.
Following the “sophisticated” scheme, the couple was allegedly convinced withdraw and transfer $268,229 from their bank accounts, beginning in October. The money was reportedly converted to gold or Bitcoin.
After the elderly couple purchased gold coins at the instruction of the alleged scammers for the second time, the male victim reportedly photographed the individual who arrived at their home to take receipt of the coins, which the sheriff’s office said led to the identification and arrest of Timsina.
“This case is an example of the sophistication and cruelty of modern fraud schemes targeting our seniors,” said Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Faris.
“These scammers use technology to deceive and isolate their victims,” he added. “No legitimate bank, government agency, or technology company will ever demand secrecy or ask you to convert your money to Bitcoin or precious metals.”
According to the press release, Timsina and the vehicle driven to the couple’s home were both recorded. The sheriff’s office additionally reported, “Timsina is originally from Nepal and is here in the United States on a Green Card.”
Officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, this document authorizes legal immigrants to live and work in the United States.
Timsina is charged with financial exploitation of an elderly adult, and has a bond set at $200,000 ahead of a January court date, according to the sheriff’s office.
A similar scam saw a Hendersonville man cheated out of nearly $60,000 in 2023. Authorities in that case eventually arrested Piyushkumar Patel, who was similarly living in Nashville at the time, and accused him of theft of property and financial exploitation of the elderly.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Surely yet another foreign guest in the USA would not do such a thing. Morales do not appear to run very deep in many immigrants.