On Feb. 17 three men were sentenced for roles in an international tech‑support fraud scheme that generated multi‑million‑dollar losses. Sentences ranged from 24 to 40 months and the Department of Justice highlighted extensive FBI coordination and the scheme’s cross‑border reach.

Three defendants were sentenced Feb. 17 after convictions tied to an international tech‑support fraud network that used fake technical‑support calls, counterfeit websites, and other social‑engineering techniques to bilk victims out of millions of dollars. Courts imposed prison terms ranging from 24 to 40 months, reflecting differing degrees of participation and criminal history. The Justice Department said victims were contacted by callers claiming to be legitimate tech‑support providers or affiliated with well‑known companies and were coerced into paying for fraudulent services, granting remote access, or transferring funds. Investigators traced operations that spanned multiple countries, required international cooperation, and relied on forensic analysis of call flows, banking records, and seized electronic devices. The FBI led coordinated investigative work with partner agencies and prosecutors in the Western District of North Carolina to dismantle the network, identify facilitators, and recover evidence. Sentencing documents described financial loss estimates in the multi‑millions and noted ongoing efforts to locate additional participants and to mitigate continuing harm to identified victims.