On March 4, 2026, the Friendswood Police Department in Texas announced the arrests of six individuals for stealing roughly $2.8 million from elderly Texans through a “phantom hacker” scam, where
- The scammers will contact their victims under the false personation of a federal government employee, falsely claiming the victims’ financial accounts were “compromised.”
- In order to “protect” their assets, the victims were asked to convert them into gold coins or bars.
Six individuals were arrested and charged with first-degree felony theft, which has been enhanced for engagement in organized criminal activity. The individuals arrested are:
- Zohaib Muhammad, a 39-year-old from Kingwood, Texas currently being held on a $5 million bond.
- Samir Ali, a 36-year-old from Atascocita, Texas who was arrested during a traffic stop near his home and is currently being held on a $5 million bond.
- Iqbal Ibrahim (30) and Mudassir Iqbal Lakhani, (60), residents from Richmond who were arrested after officers recovered 157 of the 177 gold coins (worth an estimated $766,000) stolen from an 81-year-old victim. Both are currently held on a $5 million bond.
- Samirali Ghabrani, a 48-year-old resident who was arrested on December 31, 2025 after police recovered the remaining 20 stolen gold coins from his residence in Missouri City. He is currently being held on a $1 million bond and an immigration detainer at the Galveston County Jail.
- Smitaben Thakor, a 43-year-old from Sugar Land, Texas who was arrested on December 29, 2025 and is currently being held on a $1 million bond.
