HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office has joined forces with Pennsylvania State Police to combat a series of scams targeting older Pennsylvanians.
- The state attorney general's office is working with Pennsylvania State Police to combat scams targeting Pennsylvania seniors
- Charges and arrests have been made in two scams involving three alleged scammers from New York
- Tips to avoid scams include not sending money or gift cards to unknown individuals, contacting local police or the attorney general's hotline
Charges and arrests have been made on three alleged scammers from New York involved in two schemes. One of the victims is from Lehigh County.
In that case, authorities said, Qiang Li , of Rye, N.Y., triggered a pop-up on the victim's computer screen, claiming to be an anti-virus company. The defendant then seized control of the victim's computer to obtain personal information and demanded $15,000 for the supposed "anti-virus" program.
Undercover agents intervened in a cash exchange at a grocery store parking lot, according to the attorney general's office.
Li is charged with criminal conspiracy to corrupt organizations, computer trespass, unlawful use of a computer and theft, according to a news release. He was released in lieu of $50,000 bail.
In a separate case in Montgomery County, authorities charged Jaime Barham, 25, and Francis Rohan, 24, of Bronx, N.Y., after they allegedly coerced a victim into sending cash and gift cards.
They are charged with corrupt organizations, criminal use of communication facilities and theft. Each is being held on $75,000 bail, the attorney general's office said.
Fighting scams
Attorney General Michelle Henry said the scams hit especially hard for seniors due to their fixed incomes and effect on life savings.
“These alleged scammers acted with deliberate intent to defraud their victims of significant amounts of money without consideration of the resulting financial distress,” she said in a news release. “My office encourages friends and family to discuss potential risks with their loved ones.”
“We want scammers to know that our investigators will work diligently to bring them to justice, and these arrests are examples of that.”Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police
The office provides the following guidance to acknowledge and prevent potential scams:
- Do not send money or gift cards to unknown individuals.
- If you're suspicious, contact your local police or the attorney general's hotline at 800-441-2555.
- Be wary of "too good to be true" offers, especially sweepstakes.
- Sign up for scam warning text alerts from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.
- Evaluate unsolicited communications using the SCAM acronym: Sudden, Contact, Act Now, Money or Information. Scams are usually urgent, out of the blue and ask you to act quickly to submit either money or personal information.
State police Col. Christopher Paris, who heads the state police, says: “We want scammers to know that our investigators will work diligently to bring them to justice, and these arrests are examples of that.”
Those who believe they've fallen victim to a scam should file a complaint with the attorney general's Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling 800-441-2555 or emailing here.
