Datalink Computer Services incident
Encyclopedia
The Datalink Computer Products incident refers to an alleged scam by Vickram Bedi and Helga Ingvarsdóttir to defraud Roger C. Davidson through their business, Datalink Computer Products in Mount Kisco, New York
. The alleged scam lasted from August 2004 through October 2010 and is estimated to have cost Davidson between 6–20 million USD.
The alleged scam began in August 2004 when Davidson's computer became infected with a virus and was taken to Datalink Computer Services to be repaired. There, Davidson was told by Bedi that the virus was specifically written for Davidson and that "he [Davidson] and his family were in grave danger." Bedi then told Davidson that he "had the facility, the contacts, and the means of tracking down the source of this virus." As a result of the alleged confidence trick
, Davidson began paying Bedi and Ingvarsdóttir for "computer data retrieval and security" and physical protection.
Over time, Bedi informed Davidson that "he successfully tracked the source of the computer virus to a remote village in Honduras." Bedi subsequently stated that his uncle was "an officer in the Indian military, [who] flew to Honduras in an Indian military aircraft during a reconnaissance mission and obtained the hard drive."
Bedi went on to claim that his "uncle obtained information that Polish priests affiliated with Opus Dei
were attempting to possibly harm the victim" and that the "Central Intelligence Agency had subcontracted with Bedi to perform work which would prevent any attempts by the Polish priests associated with Opus Dei to infiltrate the U.S. government."
Mount Kisco, New York
Mount Kisco is a community that is both a village and a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The Town of Mount Kisco is coterminous with the village. The population was 10,877 at the 2010 census.- History :...
. The alleged scam lasted from August 2004 through October 2010 and is estimated to have cost Davidson between 6–20 million USD.
The alleged scam began in August 2004 when Davidson's computer became infected with a virus and was taken to Datalink Computer Services to be repaired. There, Davidson was told by Bedi that the virus was specifically written for Davidson and that "he [Davidson] and his family were in grave danger." Bedi then told Davidson that he "had the facility, the contacts, and the means of tracking down the source of this virus." As a result of the alleged confidence trick
Confidence trick
A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility,...
, Davidson began paying Bedi and Ingvarsdóttir for "computer data retrieval and security" and physical protection.
Over time, Bedi informed Davidson that "he successfully tracked the source of the computer virus to a remote village in Honduras." Bedi subsequently stated that his uncle was "an officer in the Indian military, [who] flew to Honduras in an Indian military aircraft during a reconnaissance mission and obtained the hard drive."
Bedi went on to claim that his "uncle obtained information that Polish priests affiliated with Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
were attempting to possibly harm the victim" and that the "Central Intelligence Agency had subcontracted with Bedi to perform work which would prevent any attempts by the Polish priests associated with Opus Dei to infiltrate the U.S. government."
Further reading
- IULIA FILIP (May 06, 2011) Bizarre Tale of $33 Million, & Where it Went, Courthouse News Service