2 Arrested In 'Cash In Shoebox' Elderly Victim Scams: Sheriff

TOWN OF PUTNAM VALLEY, NY — Two people were arrested in unrelated cases of stealing money from elderly victims through deception, involving a shoebox, Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville says.

On March 31, a 79-year-old Town of Putnam Valley resident told a deputy that they had given over $25,000 to unknown suspects. The victim said they first received a text message from someone claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They were told that they owed a fine and needed to put money in a shoebox and wrap it up, and someone would come to pick it up.

Sheriff's Office investigators responded and were able to listen to the next phone calls between the suspects and the victim, when a time was arranged for the suspects to retrieve more money. On April 1, investigators arrested 35-year-old Ye Xu, of Flushing, when he arrived at the home to collect the money.

On April 3, a deputy was dispatched to a home in the Town of Southeast to check on the welfare of an 83-year-old resident who had just withdrawn $20,000 from a bank. Staff at the bank believed that the elderly person might be the victim of a scam. Investigators were able to contact the victim and learned that they had received an email and phone calls from suspects, who told them to withdraw the money, put it in a shoebox, and wait for someone to come and pick it up. Surveillance was set up, and later that day, 39-year-old Hengjian Wang, of Flushing, was arrested when he approached the home.

Xu and Wang were both charged with felony third-degree attempted grand larceny. They were processed and released with appearance tickets to return to court on later dates, according to cops.

Sheriff McConville commended the bank employees for calling 911 when they believed that the victim was being scammed. He asks all residents to watch out for elderly relatives and neighbors and reminds everyone that the government would never ask for money in gift cards or shoeboxes.