Suffolk County police arrested a Queens man for stealing thousands of dollars from two elderly people during a computer scam.
A 77-year-old Amityville man received an email, purportedly from the Geek Squad, reporting a charge of $399. The victim called the phone number provided in the email to dispute the charge. The person who answered the call directed the victim to log into his bank account from his computer so the funds could be returned. Once the man logged on, the suspect gained access to the man’s bank accounts and transferred $40,000 from one of the man’s accounts to the other, without the victim realizing what had been done. The representative on the phone convinced the man that the additional funds were transferred in error and the victim was to provide him with the cash. The suspect picked up $20,000 in cash at the victim’s home on Jan. 29. The following day, the victim provided $5,000 in gift cards by phone. On Jan. 31, an additional $20,000 was withdrawn from the victim’s account.
A 74-year-old Bay Shore woman was a victim of the same scam on Jan. 31. She met the suspect in a parking lot and she gave $13,000. The following day, she was contacted again and told to withdraw an additional $20,000. Bank officials became concerned during the second withdrawal and contacted police.
Financial Crimes detectives, Third Precinct officers, and Canine Section officers responded to the pickup location, a parking lot on East Main Street in East Islip, and Jarnail Singh was arrested. The $20,000 was intercepted by police.
Singh, 21, of 135-20 126th Street, South Ozone Park, was charged with grand larceny 3rd degree and attempted grand larceny 3rd degree. He will be arraigned today at First District Court in Central Islip.
The investigation is continuing. Anyone who believes they are a victim of this scam should contact Financial Crimes at 631-852-6821 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-220-TIPS.
