Elder Scam: LI Woman Paid Out More Than $250K In Gold Coins, Police Say

MASSAPEQUA, NY — A 79-year-old woman from Massapequa was the victim of an elder scam that cost her more than $250,000, police said.

Starting on May 1, the woman received an email from what she believed was PayPal indicating that she was charged $364, Nassau County police said.

The woman called the customer service phone number for an explanation and an unknown man
told her that to receive a refund, she would need to download an application called RNVC Connect, police said.

While on the app, she was told that they had accidentally sent her $50,000 and that she would need to return those funds in the form of gold coins, police said. The woman went to the bank and wired $50,000 to a coin store, police said. She picked up the gold coins and returned to her residence, authorities said.

On Friday, May 9, an unknown man responded to her home and picked up the coins, police said.

On Wednesday, May 14, the woman was again contacted and informed that she needed to send additional coins, police said.

She withdrew the funds and purchased $171,600 worth of gold coins, which were then picked up at her residence on Monday, May 19, police said.

On Friday, May 30, the woman was once again contacted and instructed to purchase an additional $41,000 in gold coins which she did; the coins were picked up from her home, police said.

It was at that point that the woman realized she was being scammed and contacted police, authorities said..

After an extensive investigation, Siarhei Radyna, 49, of Staten Island, was placed under arrest without incident, police said. He was charged with second-degree grand larceny and was expected to be arraigned on Friday, police said.

If you feel you may have been a victim of the man, Nassau County police urge you to call the fraud
and forgery squad at 516-573-2815.