An elderly couple had a surprise for two scammers who stole $24,000 from them and then drove to their Lebanon County home thinking they’d get $30,000 more, according to police.
After losing the first batch of money, the couple became suspicious. They then worked with police to ensnare two men, who were arrested Tuesday, after they showed up to pick up the rest of the cash.
Two suspects from New Jersey remained in the county jail Friday in lieu of $300,000 bond each.
The incident began Monday when the couple first told police they had dropped $24,000 in a Bitcoin machine in Harrisburg on Saturday after receiving an email with a pop-up alert supposedly from Microsoft.
The email indicated the victims’ bank accounts had been “hacked and that they were at risk of losing everything.” The notice told the couple to call two phone numbers, to reach “Mike and Rachel,” where they were then asked for personal banking account information, including passwords.
The victims followed through, and withdrew $50,000 from their bank, dropping nearly half of it in the Bitcoin machine, believing this would preserve the rest of their savings, police said.
But after the first payment went through, “Mike” asked for an additional $30,000 by phone, according to police. This time, “Mike” said they were going to stop by the couple’s home to pick up the money, police said.
On Tuesday, police were with the elderly couple when “Mike” called to tell them how to package the $30,000 and arrange for them to “throw the box of money” into the opened window in the back seat of a car that would arrive at noon. The woman did as she was told, but was ready at her home with an undercover police officer and other officers nearby conducting surveillance.
Officers watched the whole thing and later pulled over the white Nissan with New Jersey plates on Mount Zion Road in North Lebanon Township. Police found the box in the back along with a cell phone in plain view.
“Mike” was on the phone with the victims and the driver during the cash pick-up, police said.
The two men in the vehicle said they were orchestrating the scam with another person. Police did not confirm if they’re investigating or charging a third suspect.
The men arrested Tuesday were charged with two third-degree felonies: theft by deception and criminal conspiracy to commit theft by deception. Their names are: Hemal Arvindbhai Patel, 25, and Digvijaysinh Jagdishsinh Chauhan, 21, both of Iselin, New Jersey.
They were arraigned by a magisterial district judge before their bail was set at $300,000 cash.
The North Lebanon Township Police Department reminded residents to not give personal information to anyone over the phone or computer.
“With current technology, it is easy to fall victim to these types of scams,” police said in a Facebook post. “If someone is requesting that you go to a local store and purchase pre-paid card(s) or place cash or a debit card into a bitcoin or similar machine, this should be a red flag. This is not a normal payment method for any legitimate business. If this occurs, you should contact your local police department.”
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Source: Berkshire mont
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