Elderly Woman Was About To Send $26K To The 'Federal Inspector General,' But Cops Stymied The Scam: Police

KINGSTON, NY — A scam that nearly bilked an elderly Hudson Valley woman of tens of thousands of dollars was foiled by cops just in the nick of time.

On Monday, the Ulster Police Department Detective Division started an investigation after a complaint that an elderly victim was preparing to send an unknown organization $26,000. The victim reported that, beginning on Friday, she was contacted by a "Federal Inspector General" who told her that she needed to withdraw a significant amount of cash from her bank account and turn it over to them to prevent criminal charges.

The suspects monitored the victim by phone while she removed the cash from the bank and directed her to a location where she would meet an "undercover agent" who would retrieve the money and bring it to the government. Unbeknownst to the suspects, Ulster plainclothes detectives were with their mark the entire time.

At the preset meeting location, Karanveer Singh and Jaspreet Singh Gill retrieved a package from the elderly victim, police said. Gill was immediately taken into custody. Singh, who was waiting in the nearby getaway car, attempted to flee the area, nearly struck two detectives with his vehicle, collided with an unmarked detective's vehicle and led officers on a chase through the City of Kingston, the Town of Ulster, and the New York State Thruway, cops said. Singh was eventually taken into custody on the New York State Thruway, just south of the Newburgh exit.

Gill was charged with felony scheme to defraud in the first degree, felony attempted grand larceny in the third degree as a hate crime for intentionally targeting elderly victims, conspiracy and resisting arrest.

Singh was charged with felony scheme to defraud in the first degree, felony attempted grand larceny in the third degree as a hate crime for intentionally targeting elderly victims, and reckless endangerment. He was also charged with a slew of misdemeanors, including unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, and conspiracy.

Both were processed and sent to the Ulster County Jail, awaiting arraignment in the Ulster County Cap Court.

The Ulster Police Department was assisted by the City of Kingston Police Department, the Ulster County Sheriff's Office, the New York State Police, and the Ulster County District Attorney's Office.