Arrest Made in Elder Financial Abuse Case
Published on May 23, 2025
On May 18, 2025, Littleton Police Officers (LPD) responded to assist an elderly woman who suspected she was the victim of fraud. The victim received a fraudulent text from someone claiming to be Apple Support asking her to contact them to dispute a charge. This led to a series of sophisticated and well-orchestrated events that convinced the victim to send $10,000 worth of Bitcoin to the suspects, as well as arrange for two separate pickups of gold, totaling over $120,000.
Unfortunately, all of this occurred before the victim realized she was being scammed. The victim was convinced by the suspects, who then posed as investigators for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), that all of her financial accounts had been hacked and that she needed to secure her monies before they disappeared. This caused her to purchase an additional large quantity of gold (nearly $450,000) and arrange for the pickup of that as well. Fortunately, before the suspects arrived to take control of that gold, the victim realized she had been scammed and called the LPD.
The case was quickly referred to the LPD’s Investigations Division who contacted the victim and asked that she continue to communicate with the scammers. The victim, at the direction of the investigators, set up the delivery of the large quantity of gold and when the suspect arrived to take control of that package, LPD Detectives and members of the Special Enforcement Team (SET) were there and immediately took the suspect into custody.
The suspect, Meet Hittendrakumar Soni, is a citizen of India and is in the United States on a valid student visa. Soni is currently a resident of New Jersey and, when interviewed by LPD Detectives, admitted to flying from New Jersey to three other states, in addition to Colorado, to pick up similar packages at each location as part of this wide-spread criminal network. Soni was booked into the Arapahoe County Jail pending further investigation.
LPD would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone, especially seniors, that individuals are targeted everyday through e-mail, regular mail and by telephone. Nearly every scam is designed to trick victims into sending money or providing personal information. These scams are often very sophisticated and convincing but remember that no legitimate government or law enforcement agency will make unsolicited contact and then ask individuals to provide personal information or send money.
If ever asked to transfer Bitcoin, purchase gift cards, or use other non-standard methods of payment, it is likely a scam.
If there are ever any questions about the legitimacy of any communications received, especially those asking for personal information or money, contact LPD or the local police department for help before proceeding.