They also recruited homeless people by taking them for beers then convincing them to hand over access to their bank accounts, cards and PIN numbers, which were used to receive and transfer stolen money. <\/p>\n
The criminals called themselves \u201cSteve Williams\u201d and in some cases used encrypted virtual private network software to make it appear they were calling the victims from Spain or Portugal. <\/p>\n
Pictured in Auckland District Court for sentencing are Pargat Singh Bhangu (far left with head bowed), Gurwinder Singh (second from left in dark grey sweat top) and Harmandeep Singh (far right). The trio scammed $833,000 from 28 elderly victims. Photo \/ Jason Dorday<\/p>\n
But in an affidavit to the court after his July 2024 arrest, the ring\u2019s main New Zealand-based operative, Pargat Singh Bhangu, said his offending was \u201cnot motivated by greed\u201d but \u201cby my desire to help my family escape poverty and debts\u201d. <\/p>\n
Bhangu appeared for sentencing today in Auckland District Court alongside his two co-defendants, Harmandeep Singh and Gurwinder Singh. <\/p>\n
The trio were all charged with participating in an organised criminal group, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years\u2019 imprisonment. <\/p>\n
The court heard there was no realistic prospect of any reparation being paid.<\/p>\n
And though the three men are likely to be deported, one says he is at risk if he returns to India and has applied for asylum here as a refugee. <\/p>\n
\u2018Profound\u2019 and life-changing impacts on victims<\/p>\n
Judge Stephen Bonnar, KC, said the crimes had a \u201cprofound\u201d and \u201clife-changing\u201d effect on the victims, some of whom had since died.<\/p>\n
They had suffered significant financial losses in the twilight years of their lives. <\/p>\n
\u201cMany stated they will not be able to recover from the offending.\u201d <\/p>\n
The victims also reported suffering emotional and psychological harm, increased anxiety and damage to their physical health. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey are now less trusting and have increased dependency on others,\u201d the judge said.<\/p>\n
Judge Stephen Bonnar ,KC, said the criminal group deliberately targeted vulnerable elderly victims for their own financial gain. Photo \/ Sylvie Whinray<\/p>\n
\u201cA number of them express feeling of fear when they receive telephone calls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many felt self-conscious, embarrassment and shame at being duped. <\/p>\n
Judge Bonnar said the syndicate specialised in cold-call Spark and banking scams that deliberately targeted vulnerable retirees. <\/p>\n
They would make telephone calls pretending to be representatives of trusted companies already used by the victims.<\/p>\n
Once they had gained the victim\u2019s trust, the scammers would convince them to allow remote access to computers, personal information, emails and bank accounts, enabling the fraudulent money transfers.<\/p>\n
Harmandeep Singh was jailed for his part in the criminal scheme. Photo \/ Jason Dorday<\/p>\n
The highly sophisticated scams involved mobile telephones, landlines, computer software, encrypted communications apps, identification documents, bank accounts, bank cards, Prezzy Cards, ATM machines and money transfers through the likes of Western Union and Wise. <\/p>\n
The stolen funds were used for purchases in New Zealand and overseas, and cash transfers both domestically and to associates in India. Large amounts of money were also withdrawn from ATMs. <\/p>\n
To make the group\u2019s activities more successful, they learned to launder the money and transfer it as quickly as possible to avoid recovery or interception by the victims\u2019 banks. <\/p>\n
Some of the money was recovered and the total actual losses were $422,000. <\/p>\n
\u2018Trusted New Zealand lieutenant\u2019<\/p>\n
The court heard Bhangu, 30, had prior convictions for money laundering. <\/p>\n
His lawyer Aaron Kashyap told the court his client came to New Zealand as a student but was recruited to the scheme due to financial hardship. <\/p>\n
Bhangu was \u201cnot the head\u201d of the syndicate, Kashyap claimed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was like a soldier. The operation was run from India. He got entrapped.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Judge Bonnar described Bhangu as the group\u2019s \u201ctrusted New Zealand lieutenant\u201d and lead operative. He had recruited others to the scheme and his offending spanned five years from June 2019.<\/p>\n
Pargat Singh Bhangu, 30 (centre), appears for sentencing in Auckland District Court in connection with an $833,000 cold-call scam. Photo \/ Jason Dorday<\/p>\n
The judge did not accept Bhangu\u2019s claims about committing the frauds to help his family, saying it was \u201ccalculated and cynical offending\u201d motivated solely by financial gain.<\/p>\n
Bhangu alleged he personally earned about $80,000 from the scheme, but he had lied about his knowledge and involvement to a probation report writer, the judge said.<\/p>\n
Bhangu had not shown genuine remorse and was considered at high risk of reoffending.<\/p>\n
Some of his most recent offending was committed while on bail and he was unable to offer any reparation to his victims, the judge said.<\/p>\n
He was sentenced to three years and eight months in jail.<\/p>\n
The other two defendants had played lesser roles but were still instrumental in the fraudulent scheme, the judge said. <\/p>\n
Harmandeep Singh had \u201cminimised\u201d his offending and the remorse he expressed was for himself and his family, rather than his victims, Judge Bonnar said.<\/p>\n
He was jailed for two years and eight months. <\/p>\n
Gurwinder Singh, 35, was sentenced to 24 months in jail, which means he was eligible for immediate release due to time already served. Photo \/ Jason Dorday<\/p>\n
Gurwinder Singh, 35, claimed to have only received up to $6000 for his role. <\/p>\n
A probation report said contributing factors to his offending were drug abuse and \u201cpro-criminal attitudes\u201d. <\/p>\n
However, the judge found he had shown some genuine remorse and insight, and had no previous convictions. <\/p>\n
He was sentenced to 24 months in prison, which meant he was eligible for immediate release given time already served. <\/p>\n
Lane Nichols is Auckland desk editor for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years\u2019 experience in the industry.<\/p>\n