Brooklyn Man Accused Of Trying To Scam Elderly New Windsor Resident Out Of $30K: PD

NEW WINDSOR, NY — After an elderly resident got a call claiming to be from Apple and demanding money, he alerted police - who say they set up a sting and captured the scammer.

Police said they responded to a local financial institution on April 14 after an elderly male received the suspicious phone call.

The caller claimed to be a representative from tech company Apple and demanded $30,000 in U.S. currency for unauthorized charges, according to police.

The call came from a (202) area code, which is the Washington, D.C. area.

The victim realized it was a scam, and the New Windsor Police Department was contacted and launched an investigation, police said.

Police arranged for a controlled phone call, in which a meeting with the scammer was set up. A man showed up for the money and was taken into custody, police said.

Wenxi Wang, 46, of Brooklyn, was charged with third-degree attempted grand larceny. Wang was processed and is due to appear in New Windsor Justice Court on May 5.

Officials urged residents to be vigilant about scams and report any suspicious activity or calls to law enforcement.

Town Supervisor Stephen Bedetti thanked police and said, “In today's world, it is more important than ever to remain vigilant and aware of the many scams targeting our communities, especially our seniors, who too often are the victims of these calculated and devastating crimes.”

“We have seen far too many cases where elderly individuals have lost their life savings to fraudsters who prey on trust and fear," Bedetti added.