Case Study: Remote Access Scam & Bank of America Impersonation — Merle’s $1.38M Loss
Status: OPEN — Cross-border actions ongoing
Victim: Merle Lee Korejwo, Englewood (Charlotte County), Florida
Approx. Loss: $1.3–$1.38 million
Type: PayPal/Bank of America impersonation + remote-access control (device takeover)
Jurisdictions: USA ↔ India
In one of the largest cases handled by Rondesse, 75-year-old Merle Korejwo from Englewood, Florida, lost $1.38 million to an elaborate PayPal and Bank of America impersonation scam. Our team traced the operation to India, coordinated with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and helped trigger arrests and the freezing of assets in the suspects’ accounts.
Merle Lee Korejwo is an educated advocate with extensive experience in online MS support communities, demonstrating strong digital literacy. Her long history of running web forums and listservs since the early days of the internet reflects proactive and capable online engagement. Nonetheless, her experience as a scam victim highlights that even the most tech-savvy individuals can be targeted and deceived by increasingly sophisticated scams.
INCIDENT DETAILS
The scam began with a spoofed email mimicking PayPal, alerting Korejwo to a fraudulent $499 Bitcoin transaction. Calling the provided number connected her to scammers using aliases “David Williams” (real name: Shadan) and “Ethan Norman Smith” (real name: Ajay Bissa). Posing as Bank of America fraud investigators, they tricked her into installing AnyDesk remote access software, gaining control over her devices and isolating her from support networks. Funds were siphoned via platforms like Paxful to Indian accounts.
- Tactics Employed: Social engineering, remote access exploitation, victim isolation.
- Ringleaders Identified: Anchal Mittal, Vikramjeet Singh (primary operators); assisted by Shadan, Ajay Bissa, and others including Akshay Mittal.
- Scam Network: Based in Yamuna Nagar, India—a hotspot for cyber fraud call centers targeting Americans and other foreign nationals.
Early news coverage in May 2023, detailed Korejwo’s devastation amid a surge in elderly scams reported by the FBI. Korejwo shared: “You don’t know that you’re in a scam or being scammed until you’re in that scam,” and described the scammers as having “no compassion at all. There’s no empathy, there’s no feeling. It’s strictly a business and they don’t care who they hurt.” At that time, local investigations had stalled due to cross-border challenges, leaving victims like Korejwo with little hope for scam recovery. As the scam’s severity emerged, Merle sought help from local law enforcement, including the Secret Service and Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. A total of 42 law firms turned her down. Hope faded until Sgt. Chris Farley referred her to Rondesse.
Merle's Rondesse Experience
From the outset, Merle was assigned a dedicated personal concierge, her single point of contact, who coordinated all aspects of her case. The case was escalated to Rondesse’s senior management team, ensuring strategic oversight at every stage. Merle even met directly with Rondesse’s CEO, underscoring the seriousness of the case and the company’s commitment to pursuing justice beyond U.S. borders.
Recognizing that the perpetrators were operating from India, Rondesse activated its established India-based network. The team conducted a meticulous vetting process, reviewing multiple law firms and independent attorneys to identify those with the right expertise and integrity to take on an international scam case of this magnitude. This process included background checks, case history reviews, and in-depth interviews with potential legal partners to ensure that no time or resources would be wasted on unqualified representation.
Once vetted, Rondesse coordinated directly with Indian law enforcement, local attorneys, and private investigators, navigating both the Indian legal system and cultural nuances that often delay international justice. Rondesse’s India counsel and investigations team packaged intake evidence, device-access artifacts, and fund-flow indicators, enabling ED (Enforcement Directorate) -level review.
EVIDENCE AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
- Key Evidence: Paxful subpoena records, AnyDesk logs, bank transfer trails to Indian accounts.
- Convictions: Suspects convicted in Indian courts for fraud and money laundering. ED’s role prevents influence or bribery, supporting India’s efforts to combat scams and restore global reputation.
- Asset Seizures: 12 accounts frozen (~$800,000); network includes fake call centers dismantled.
- Comparison to Standard Processes:
| Aspect | Standard India/U.S. Timeline | Rondesse-Facilitated Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Apprehension | 18 months+ (India); 20 months (U.S.) | 45-60 days for key suspects |
| Arrests | Low success rate | 25+ arrests, convictions secured |
| Recovery | Rare, multi-year delays | $800K frozen; expected return in months |
| Cooperation | Jurisdictional barriers | Global partnerships with ED and local firms |
Following convictions in Indian courts, the focus shifted to asset recovery. India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED), akin to the U.S. Department of Justice, escalated the case due to its national significance, part of broader efforts to combat scams and enhance India’s reputation. Rondesse’s legal team ensured proper procedures, preventing bribery or influence, and froze approximately $800,000 across 12 accounts linked to the network. While not all assets directly tie to Merle’s case, her status as the investigation’s catalyst grants her first claim.
Rondesse’s scam recovery services accelerate cross-border fraud remediation, surpassing traditional law enforcement through innovative tech and legal strategies. While prior U.S. cases against Indian scammers exist (e.g., DOJ indictments in 2016 and 2022 targeting call center networks), this represents a standout private-sector-led success in delivering justice and potential fund recovery for an individual American victim despite offshore jurisdiction.
RONDESSE RESPONSE & ACTIONS
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Immediate Intake and Outreach: After referral, Rondesse vetted Merle through multiple Zooms and an in-person meeting, establishing trust and confirming the case’s validity.
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Digital Forensics & Scam Tracing: Conducted forensic analysis of device logs, traced remote sessions, and mapped fund flows to accounts identified in India.
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Coordination with Indian Authorities: Routed findings to ED via vetted Indian legal partners, enabling international coordination under PMLA.
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Ongoing Advocacy: Continues to act as Merle’s advocate—monitoring progress, protecting her legal interests, and pushing for asset return.
This ongoing investigation demonstrates effective international cyber fraud justice, powered by Rondesse’s scam recovery expertise. From pre-Rondesse media highlighting victim hopelessness to current asset freezes, Rondesse’s intervention bridges jurisdictional gaps, setting a benchmark for global scam protection.
Rondesse will continue to strengthen U.S.-India cooperation; raise awareness of private scam remediation services. Case under monitoring for complete fund recovery.
KEY FINDINGS
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Even tech-literate individuals are vulnerable to well-executed impersonation schemes.
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Coordinated, cross-border action is possible when private firms escalate evidence effectively.
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Indian law enforcement (ED) can mobilize on U.S. victim cases when presented with compelling cases.
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Rondesse acted where law firms and local agencies could not — bridging jurisdictional gaps.
SOURCES:
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Rondesse Case Intake (Internal PDF): Victim statements, strategy timeline, forensic data, coordination steps.
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WTSP – Tampa Bay (June 2024): Feature on elder fraud with Merle’s name and quote (“It’s vicious”).
(wtsp.com) -
Business Standard – India (Aug 1, 2025): ED investigation details — Merle named, network size, attack infrastructure.
(business-standard.com) -
FBI Elder Fraud PSA (YouTube): Includes Merle’s case as exemplar.
(youtube.com)
