Morris County Residents Warned of $13 Million Tech Support Scam Following Passaic County Man's Arrest

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announces charges against a Clifton man accused of defrauding more than 7,000 victims, primarily targeting small business owners and the elderly.

A Passaic County man, arrested for allegedly defrauding over 7,000 U.S. residents, has Morris County authorities issuing warnings to local residents about technology support scams. The scheme allegedly amassed more than $13 million from its victims, who were primarily small business owners and the elderly.

Manoj Yadav, a 40-year-old resident of Clifton, New Jersey, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court this afternoon.

According to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, “The defendant and his conspirators are alleged to have misled their numerous victims into thinking that they were a legitimate technology support company affiliated with a major software company.” The victims were then charged exorbitant fees for purported tech support services, which were not authorized by the software company.

FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy further emphasized the sophistication of these scams, saying, “The amount he's accused of stealing from his victims and the number of victims seem shocking; however, we are seeing an incredible increase in all types of tech support scams. The fraudsters are pretty savvy in how they con money out of people, even those of us who think we’re smart enough to not fall for it. If you think you’re a victim, please reach out to the FBI.”

The scam was operational from 2017 through 2023. Yadav and his co-conspirators, many based in India, impersonated a major U.S. business and accounting software company under fraudulent business names such as “Phebs Software Services, LLC,” and “Quickbooks Tech Assist.” After pretending to provide technical assistance, victims were either charged sky-high fees or unnecessary subscription fees.

Yadav was implicated in funneling millions of dollars to his co-conspirators while retaining approximately 17% of the funds. He did business under various fraudulent company names and used these to falsely present himself as a legitimate partner of the software company to both banks and victims.

The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greater.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, for the investigation that led to today’s charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake A. Nasar of the General Crimes Unit in Newark represents the government in this case.

It should be noted that the charges are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case serves as a sobering reminder for Morris County residents to be vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams, especially those involving technology support services.