RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from two elderly victims in Rutherford County is now facing charges for his connection to an international cyber theft scheme.

The suspect—identified as 25-year-old Dipen Patel—was arrested this week. He was charged with theft of property ranging over $60,000.

"I don't care what county you live in; these scams are impacting everyone," retired FBI Cyber Crime Unit Special Agent Scott Augenbaum said.

So far this year, Metro Nashville and the surrounding counties have reported over 1,000 imposter scams, making them the most common form of fraud.

Internet service scams ranked second, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

"Cyber theft has grown exponentially over the last three years whether it is shopping scams via cyber theft, banking scams, fake ticket scams, it really crosses all the genres to how we spend our money online," President for BBB of Middle Tennessee Robyn Householder told News 2.

Imposter scams range from fake IRS calls to phony charities.

After a big spike in 2021, they've stayed steady through 2023 and 2024.

"The best thing to do, especially when it is an imposter scammer or looks like a legitimate retailer or legitimate retailer that you know [is to] go directly to their website and see what they are offering and don't click on the link," Householder explained.

Texts and emails have been the top ways scammers reach victims for the last three years.

Those hit hardest were people aged 60 and older, losing over a billion dollars nationwide last year alone. Younger people around the age of 30 were next in line.

"The category of people over 60 are very trusting," Augenbaum expressed. "They are not aware of these types of scams, and again, Gen Z is not worried about sharing information online."

"I deal with victims all the time, and a lot of them are humiliated," Augenbaum added. "90% of it easily could be prevented."

Experts told News 2 the best ways to protect yourself include:

• Not clicking on links from unknown sources
• Verify information by contacting the company directly
• Utilizing strong passwords and two-factor authentication
• Never share personal information over email, text, or phone calls

If you believe you have been scammed, report it to local law enforcement and the BBB.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/cyber-theft-arrest-highlights-growing-threat-in-middle-tennessee/