A Houston man has been arrested in connection with a scam that cost an elderly Louisiana resident approximately $275,000 after someone posing as law enforcement claimed there was a warrant for the victim’s arrest.
Zulkar Nain, 34, is accused of participating in the scheme, which investigators say targeted the Ascension Parish resident through electronic communications between May and August 2026. The victim was instructed to send money through cryptocurrency ATMs, gift cards and FedEx shipments.
The demands later escalated into threats of violence. Authorities say the victim, acting out of fear, eventually met Nain in person on three occasions and handed him a combined $90,000 in cash.
Pelican Post reported that Nain was booked into the Ascension Parish Jail on charges of theft over $25,000, exploitation of elderly persons or persons with infirmities, illegal transmission of monetary funds, false personation of a peace officer and extortion.
A Fake Arrest Warrant Started the Scam
Detectives say the victim began receiving electronic communications from someone claiming to be a member of law enforcement. The person told the victim there was an active warrant for their arrest and instructed the victim to send money to address the supposed criminal matter.
The demands involved several payment methods. Investigators say the victim was directed to use cryptocurrency ATMs and gift cards and to send money through FedEx during the scheme.
The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office told WBRZ that the victim’s total monetary loss reached approximately $275,000.
The Demands Escalated Into Threats and Cash Meetings
Authorities say additional payments were demanded as the scheme continued and that threats of violence were made against the victim.
Investigators say the victim later met Nain in person and completed three separate cash transactions totaling $90,000. The sheriff’s office has not publicly broken down how much of the remaining loss was sent through cryptocurrency, gift cards or FedEx shipments.
Authorities also have not said that Nain personally made the original electronic contacts or the initial claim about the arrest warrant. Detectives said the investigation remains ongoing as they work to determine whether other people were involved.
Nain Faces Five Charges
Ascension Parish detectives identified Nain during the investigation and arrested him before booking him into the parish jail.
He faces five charges: theft over $25,000, exploitation of elderly persons or persons with infirmities, illegal transmission of monetary funds, false personation of a peace officer and extortion.
The charges are accusations and have not been proven in court. Nain is presumed innocent unless convicted.
How to Check a Warrant Threat Before Sending Money
The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said legitimate law enforcement agencies do not call people and demand money to resolve an arrest warrant or criminal matter.
The sheriff’s office said law enforcement professionals will not instruct someone to pay through gift cards, FedEx shipments, cryptocurrency or Bitcoin ATMs, Western Union or other money transfer services. Someone who receives an arrest threat combined with one of those payment demands should end the call rather than follow the caller’s payment instructions.
Authorities also recommend contacting a trusted family member and calling the law enforcement agency directly before sending money. The phone number should be obtained independently rather than from the caller, text message or other communication making the threat.
The sheriff’s office specifically encouraged families to discuss these scams with elderly relatives because callers may use fear, urgency and threats to pressure a target into paying before they have time to ask someone else for help.