In a stern warning to foreign nationals studying in the United States, the U.S. Embassy in India has reiterated that breaking American laws can lead to immediate visa revocation. This comes in the wake of a ₹1 crore ($1.2 million) fraud involving two Indian students who scammed elderly U.S. citizens by impersonating government officials.
Online Impersonation, Real-World Devastation: How Two Indian Students Exploited the U.S. Visa System
Two Indian nationals, Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel and Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya, have become cautionary tales in a rising tide of international cyber fraud. Both entered the United States legally on student visas. Both are now convicted criminals. Patel, 20, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Patel operated as a key handler in an elaborate scheme targeting elderly Americans, using phishing techniques and impersonating government agents to coerce victims into parting with large sums of money and gold.
Investigators revealed that Patel personally collected the illicit proceeds, sometimes in cash, other times in bullion, before keeping a cut and transferring the rest to accomplices. On August 24, 2024, he was caught red-handed in Granite Shoals, Texas, attempting to collect what he thought was $130,000 (approximately Rs. 1 crore). Federal agents had set a trap. Four days later, he was formally arrested and has remained in custody since. His co-defendant, Mangukiya, pleaded guilty just days ago, on June 16, 2025, and is awaiting sentencing. Both were implicated in the $2.69 million (approximately Rs. 23 Crores) scheme that exploited at least 25 elderly victims.
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Repercussions Beyond Prison: U.S. Embassy Issues Strong Advisory to Visa Holders
The gravity of the case, and its diplomatic fallout, was underlined by an unusually pointed statement from the U.S. Embassy in India. Shared on the embassy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, the advisory read:
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued, and we may revoke your visa if you break the law.”
The message is a rare and explicit acknowledgement of the increasing number of visa frauds in the USA. It also signaled heightened scrutiny of international students, particularly those who misuse the legal pathways for personal gain.
American officials emphasised that involvement in illegal activities, be it fraud, drug offences, or identity theft, can result not only in prosecution but also permanent ineligibility for U.S. visas in the future. The embassy made clear: visa revocation can occur retroactively and swiftly.
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Pattern of Exploitation: Similar Cases Reveal a Growing Crisis
This case is not isolated. Earlier this year, another Indian student, Moinuddin Mohammed, was sentenced to eight years in prison for running a parallel scam, defrauding elderly U.S. residents out of nearly $6 million (approximately Rs. 52 Crores). Like Patel, Mohammed used intimidation tactics, posed as law enforcement, and operated via international laundering networks.
All three men had valid F-1 (student) visas and were presumably pursuing higher education in the U.S., though federal authorities have declined to disclose the universities involved. The U.S. Justice Department and FBI have since reissued fraud warnings to vulnerable populations, especially senior citizens, urging them not to respond to suspicious calls, emails, or threats of arrest from so-called “officials.” Many victims had been told they were under federal investigation, prompting panic payments to avoid fictitious charges.
Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts warn that student visa fraud is evolving into a multi-billion-dollar global racket, enabled by social engineering, digital anonymity, and transnational money movement.
About the author – Prakriti Jha is a student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, currently pursuing B.Sc. LL.B (Hons.) with a keen interest in the intersection of law and data science. She is passionate about exploring how legal frameworks adapt to the evolving challenges of technology and justice.