On Monday, June 16th, 2025, Whitewater police officers investigated a complaint received from a victim of a financial scam. The scam began when a person called and identified themselves to the victim as being an agent for the Federal Trade Commission. The suspect informed the victim that their bank accounts were compromised and flagged after claiming that the victim’s account was used illegally in a drug trafficking and sex trafficking incident(s). The suspect advised and disclosed many different personal identifiers about the victim, the victim’s assets, and other significant personal information. Ultimately, the suspect was able to fraud the victim out of thousands of dollars.
On June 25th, 2025, the victim called the Whitewater Police Department to report that the same suspect was again contacting the victim, indicating they needed more money, specifically $50,000 in cash. The suspect claimed that the victim’s account was once again compromised. A detective from the Whitewater Police Department met with the victim to investigate, protect the victim, and attempt to apprehend the suspect. The detective worked with the victim and their bank as the detective strategically planned a meeting to intercept the individual coming to pick up the money.
At approximately 2:00 pm, on June 25th, 2025, officers and detectives from the Whitewater Police Department, deputies from the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, and a detective from the UW-Whitewater Police Department assisted in this investigation. At about 5:00 pm, Harshal D. Patel (25 years of age from Hoffman Estates, Illinois), arrived to pick up the predetermined amount of money, $50,000. Patel was taken into custody a short time later and he was later confined in the Jefferson County Jail for Attempted Theft per Wisconsin State Statutes 943.20(1)(d), a class G Felony. This investigation is in the beginning stages, but as of this press release, Patel himself was involved in an intricate scheme with a web of other suspects who focused on elderly victims around the Midwest. Whitewater detectives have identified five different states in the Midwest that Patel himself was collecting US Currency and precious metals (such as gold). Over the last two months alone, Patel himself was [allegedly] involved in the theft of over $2.9 million in US Currency/precious metals.
This investigation is still active and no further information will be released since this is an ongoing investigation. The Whitewater Police Department would like to remind the public that no banks or government agencies will call and ask for large sums of money or other assets to be picked up. Please contact the Whitewater Police Department or your local Law Enforcement agency to report or inquire about a possible scam. If you have been a recent victim of this scam, please report your incident to your local police department.
The Whitewater Police Department would like to thank the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, UW-Whitewater Police Department, and First Citizens State Bank for their assistance in this investigation.
Editor’s note: The above press release was received from the Whitewater Police Department. Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
