FBI Sacramento warns Indian community of extortion scheme

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Sacramento Field Office has issued a warning to the public about an extortion scheme affecting individuals with familial or business ties to India.

The field office is tracking several instances throughout its 34-county area of responsibility in which people were targeted for extortion and threatened with violence, according to a press release in four languages — English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.

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These criminal acts are believed to be underreported, it said. “The FBI and its law enforcement partners urge the public to report these crimes to ensure the individuals committing these alleged crimes face justice.”

“We are deeply concerned for the safety and economic security of our neighbors of Indian descent who have been targeted,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily, who leads the FBI Sacramento Field Office.

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“Criminals are targeting hard-working, law-abiding business owners and are using thug tactics to extort them in clear violation of the law. Timely reporting of attempted extortion to the authorities will help law enforcement to identify and disrupt this criminal scheme, ensuring the safety and economic security of the community.”

In recent extortion attempts, subjects demanded a large sum of money and threatened physical violence or death if the demand was not met, according to the release. Individuals who disregarded the demands subsequently became victims of violence, including targeted shootings at their residences and vehicles, it stated.

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Anyone who believes they are in immediate danger should call 911, the release stated. Threats of violence intended to extort victims for a specified sum can be reported to the FBI by calling the local field office, submitting a tip online at tips.fbi.gov, or calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

The FBI can connect callers with language services to ensure clear communication for callers, it stated.

(Editor’s Note: In a previous version of this story, a photo of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office was published, instead of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. We regret this error.)