Two U.S. executives plead guilty over support for India-based tech support fraud schemes
Two former executives of a U.S.-based call routing and analytics business have pleaded guilty after prosecutors said they knowingly supported customers running tech support fraud schemes tied to India-based call centers. Former CEO Adam Young, 42, of Miami, and former CSO Harrison Gevirtz, 33, of Las Vegas, each pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.
The Justice Department said the company provided phone numbers, call routing, call tracking, and call forwarding services to customers the executives knew were engaged in fraud. The schemes targeted victims in the United States and abroad, including older and vulnerable Americans.
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The case shows how tech support scams depend on more than call center agents. Fraud networks also need phone infrastructure, routing tools, call tracking systems, payment paths, and service providers willing to look away or help them keep operating.
What the executives admitted
Young and Gevirtz admitted that they operated a business that served customers involved in tech support fraud from around 2016 through 2022. The schemes used deceptive pop-up messages that falsely warned users their computers had viruses, malware, or serious security problems.
Victims were told to call numbers shown in the pop-ups. Those calls were routed to fraudulent call centers, where agents pushed unnecessary or fake technical support services and sometimes gained remote access to victims’ computers.
The FBI warns that tech support scammers often pressure victims into granting remote computer access. Once inside a device, scammers can reach personal files, financial information, and online accounts.
| Case detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendants | Adam Young and Harrison Gevirtz |
| Former roles | CEO and CSO of a call routing and analytics business |
| Plea | Misprision of a felony |
| Scheme period described by prosecutors | Approximately 2016 through April 2022 |
| Main service provided | Phone numbers, call routing, call tracking, and call forwarding |
| Sentencing date | June 16, 2026 |
How the scam calls reached victims
According to prosecutors, the fraud operations used fake pop-up warnings to scare people into calling phone numbers controlled by the scammers. Some warnings claimed to come from well-known technology companies and told users their computers had been infected.
The Federal Trade Commission says tech support scams often start with a bogus computer warning, a call, or a message from someone pretending to work for a trusted company. The goal is to get money, remote access, or financial information.
After victims called, agents at the call centers persuaded them to pay hundreds of dollars for fake or unnecessary support. In some cases, agents also used remote access to collect personal and financial information from victims’ computers.
Prosecutors say the support went beyond passive service
The case did not center only on the sale of ordinary telecommunications tools. Prosecutors said Young and Gevirtz received complaints and law enforcement inquiries about fraudulent customers, yet failed to report the conduct and helped some customers continue operating.
The DOJ release says the executives advised some customers on methods to reduce victim complaints and avoid account terminations. It also says they helped some customers buy and sell fraud calls among themselves.
Prosecutors also said Young and Gevirtz directed employees to market services to customers engaged in tech support fraud. They also owned and operated a call center in Tunisia where some employees were involved in tech support fraud between 2016 and April 2022.
The wider investigation reached India-based call centers
The pleas followed an FBI investigation that began in 2020 and led to convictions of India-based telemarketing fraudsters. The Justice Department named Sahil Narang, Chirag Sachdeva, Abrar Anjum, and Manish Kumar as Indian citizens convicted of charges tied to telemarketing fraud schemes.
Those schemes targeted Americans out of millions of dollars, with many victims described as vulnerable because of age or infirmity. The investigation also contributed to the conviction of Jagmeet Singh Virk in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The case highlights a familiar pattern in cross-border scam operations. Call centers may sit overseas, but they often rely on U.S.-linked infrastructure, routing businesses, payment systems, lead sellers, and technical service providers to reach victims at scale.
Why tech support scams remain costly
Tech support fraud remains one of the most damaging forms of cyber-enabled crime because it combines fear, urgency, and direct human pressure. Victims often believe they are solving a computer problem, stopping identity theft, or protecting their bank accounts.
The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report announcement said cyber-enabled crimes caused nearly $21 billion in reported losses in 2025. The Justice Department also quoted FBI Boston as saying tech support scams cost Americans $2.1 billion last year, while Rhode Island residents reported at least $5.7 million in losses.
Those figures likely do not capture every victim. Many people do not report scams because they feel embarrassed, fear blame, or believe there is no chance of getting money back.
What consumers should watch for
Tech support scams usually begin with fear. A pop-up may claim the computer is infected, frozen, hacked, or connected to a crime. The message may include a phone number and demand immediate action.
- Do not call phone numbers shown in unexpected security pop-ups.
- Do not give remote access to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
- Do not pay for tech support with gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or payment apps.
- Close the browser window or restart the device if a fake warning locks the screen.
- Contact the real company only through its official website or app.
- Report suspected tech support scams to the FTC, FBI, or local law enforcement.
The FTC guidance says real security warnings from technology companies do not ask users to call a number in a pop-up. Consumers should treat urgent pop-ups and unsolicited support calls as red flags.
Why the guilty pleas matter
The case is important because it targets the business layer that helps scam call centers operate. Fraud callers need infrastructure that can route calls, rotate numbers, track performance, and reduce the effect of complaints.
By pursuing executives who supplied and supported that infrastructure, investigators are trying to raise the cost for service providers that knowingly enable fraud. The message is that companies cannot profit from scam traffic while claiming they played no role in the harm.
The FBI’s tech support scam guidance also shows why remote access requests are so dangerous. Once scammers gain control of a computer, they can steal files, drain accounts, or install tools that keep access alive.
What happens next
Young and Gevirtz are scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2026. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI internet crime report summary shows why cases like this remain a priority for law enforcement. Scam operations continue to generate major losses, and older adults remain frequent targets for fraud networks that use pressure, impersonation, and fake technical emergencies.
For consumers, the safest rule is simple: ignore pop-up phone numbers, deny remote access requests from strangers, and verify support claims through trusted channels before paying anyone.
FAQ
Former CEO Adam Young of Miami and former CSO Harrison Gevirtz of Las Vegas each pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony in a case tied to tech support fraud schemes.
Prosecutors said the business provided phone numbers, call routing, call tracking, and call forwarding services to customers the executives knew were involved in tech support fraud.
Victims saw fake pop-up warnings claiming their computers had viruses or malware. They were directed to call a number, then pressured into paying for fake or unnecessary tech support services.
They are scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2026. A federal judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
People should ignore unexpected pop-up support numbers, avoid giving remote access to strangers, refuse unusual payment demands, and contact companies only through official websites or apps.
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