Pakistani Nationals Charged in Major US Medicare Fraud Cases

WASHINGTON: Several Pakistani nationals have been charged in major healthcare fraud cases targeting the U.S. Medicare system.

Some of the alleged schemes involved call centers in Pakistan.

The largest case involves four Pakistani nationals wanted over an alleged $703 million Medicare fraud scheme.

They are Fizza Farid, Faizan Saleem, Shearyar Arif and Ruknuddin “Rick” Charolia.

U.S. authorities accuse them of running a fraudulent call center in Pakistan. The operation was known as Hello International Marketing Solutions (HIMS).

Prosecutors say the group obtained Medicare beneficiaries’ personal information through hacking, data scraping and deceptive websites.

They allegedly used the stolen data to submit false Medicare claims for COVID-19 test kits, genetic tests and medical equipment.

The beneficiaries had neither requested nor received the products.

The alleged scheme generated about $703 million in fraudulent claims. The U.S. government reportedly paid around $418.6 million before uncovering the operation.

Authorities believe the four suspects are hiding in Pakistan or the United Arab Emirates.

In another case, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted Pakistani nationals Burhan Mirza and Kashif Iqbal in February 2026.

Prosecutors accused them of a $10 million healthcare fraud scheme. They allegedly used medical laboratories and equipment companies to submit false Medicare bills.

The bills covered services that were never provided.

Iqbal also faces allegations of money laundering and transferring some of the proceeds to Pakistan.

In March 2026, authorities arrested Jahangeer Ali in Southern California. He allegedly submitted more than $46 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare Advantage plans.

The claims involved laboratory tests that were never performed.

In an earlier case, authorities arrested Farrukh Ali in Arizona. He allegedly helped submit millions of dollars in fraudulent medical bills involving drug rehabilitation clinics.

The cases reflect a wider U.S. crackdown on healthcare fraud. Authorities are also pursuing billions of dollars allegedly obtained through false Medicare and insurance claims. . .. (from the internet) 09 Sep 2026