CLIFTON PARK — State Police arrested two New York City area residents July 31 in connection with a fraud scheme that bilked an elderly Saratoga County resident out of more than $80,000.
Chuncheng Lin, 26, of Brooklyn, and Hui Lin, 40, of Flushing, were each charged with grand larceny in the third degree and conspiracy in the fifth degree.
The arrests were made with assistance from the United States Homeland Security Investigations.
Troopers received a complaint June 30 at about 2 p.m. from an elderly Saratoga County resident who reported believing they were the victim of a computer scam.
The investigation determined the victim was contacted June 18 via computer and then by phone by an individual who falsely claimed they worked for the Citizens Bank Fraud Department.
The caller threatened the victim with legal prosecution if they did not provide money in the form of cash and gift cards.
For a week leading up to the victim reporting the scam, the victim lost more than $80,000 in cash and gift cards by means of extortion.
July 31, the suspect re-contacted the victim and demanded another $30,000.
Under the supervision of State Police Clifton Park investigators and with the cooperation of the victim, an additional meeting was scheduled.
Chuncheng Lin and Hui Lin, who are unknown to the victim, traveled from the Long Island region to the agreed upon location in Halfmoon.
The suspects took possession of a package they reportedly believed contained $30,000 from the victim.
The suspects were then taken into custody and transported to State Police Clifton Park where they were interviewed by State Police investigators and HSI agents.
Both suspects were issued appearance tickets returnable to the Halfmoon Town Court on Aug. 27 and released.
