YONKERS — The Yonkers Police Department is warning residents about an increase in phone scams involving callers who falsely claim to represent the department’s “Internet Crime Unit.”
The scammers attempt to obtain financial information or persuade residents to open bank accounts in foreign countries, telling victims their existing accounts have been compromised due to criminal activity.
Police say no “Internet Crime Unit” exists within the Yonkers Police Department.
The fraudsters have been using caller ID spoofing technology to make their phone numbers appear as official police department numbers.
Police arrested two suspects in a related scam operation that defrauded a Yonkers resident of nearly $70,000.
Hongdong Liu, 30, of Queens, and Pinting Lu, 28, of Queens, were charged in connection with calls to a resident in which they impersonated a Yonkers Police lieutenant and demanded money to fix the victim’s computer, falsely claiming it was being used for child pornography.
The department’s Detective Division and Warrant Squad worked together to identify and arrest both suspects.
Police emphasize they will never request financial information or demand money transfers over the phone.
Residents who receive suspicious calls claiming to be from the Yonkers Police Department can verify the legitimacy by calling the non-emergency number at 914-377-7900.
Anyone who receives unsolicited calls requesting financial information or asking them to open bank accounts should report the incident to police at the same number.
