Putnam County, TN – An arrest has been made in a sophisticated fraud scheme that allegedly cost elderly victims more than $268,000, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), deputies responded on November 29 to a fraud report involving two victims over the age of 70. Investigators say the scam began on September 19 when one victim received a fraudulent pop-up message on her computer appearing to be from Microsoft, instructing her to call a phone number for assistance.
PCSO officials said the victim spoke with an individual identifying himself as “Alan Gray,” who claimed her computer had been compromised. She was later connected to another person calling himself “Josh Campbell,” who allegedly impersonated a bank employee by spoofing the phone number on the back of the victim’s debit card.
According to investigators, the suspect falsely told the victims their bank accounts were under federal investigation and instructed them not to tell anyone. Authorities say this fear tactic was used to pressure the victims into withdrawing large sums of money and converting the funds into Bitcoin and physical gold.
Between September 19 and November 5, investigators said the victims transferred a total of $268,229. As part of the scheme, the victims were directed to purchase one-ounce Gold Maple Leaf coins from a local coin dealer. An unknown male allegedly arrived at the victims’ residence on multiple occasions to retrieve the gold.
PCSO said photographs taken by the victim’s husband helped investigators identify the suspect as Tulasi Ram Timsina of Nashville. On December 10, Timsina was arrested and charged with Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Adult. His bond was set at $200,000, with a court appearance scheduled for January 12, 2026.
Sheriff Eddie Farris urged residents to report suspected scams immediately, emphasizing that no legitimate bank, government agency, or technology company will demand secrecy or request money in cryptocurrency or precious metals.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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