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On Monday, April 24, the Nassau County Police Department reported a string of cons that targeted the citizens, all of whom were over the age of 65.
The first reported incident happened in Farmingdale on Thursday, April 6, when detectives reported that a 69-year-old woman received a call from someone claiming to be an Apple employee.
The scammer convinced the victim that her computer and all accounts had been compromised.
In order to keep her money safe, the scammer claimed, she needed to withdraw all of the money in her bank account and take it to Connecticut, where it would be transferred into cryptocurrency accounts.
Over several trips, the victim transferred over $500,000.
One week later, a 67-year-old Seaford man was targeted on Facebook by an unknown user directing the victim to contact a second user about a fake government program the victim was eligible for.
However, after contacting the second user, the scammer told the victim he needed to transfer money in order to apply for the program.
The victim made multiple transfers totaling several thousands of dollars before realizing it was a scam, police said.
A third victim was targeted the next day on Friday, April 14, detectives said.
A Bethpage woman, age 84, was contacted by someone claiming to be a lawyer for her grandson who was arrested.
In order to bail him out, the scammer told the woman to withdraw $9,800 from her account.
Upon returning home, the scammer called the woman again and told her to come outside her house, where a man took the victim’s money and fled in a silver SUV.
Police said the suspect was described as an Asian male in his mid-forties.
The investigation is ongoing for all three crimes, and they do not appear to be related.
The Nassau County Police Department is urging community members to be alert in regard to potential scams and to check in on friends and family members who may be vulnerable to scams.
Anyone with information on any of the incidents should contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All calls will be kept anonymous.
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