Police in Nassau County are warning residents, especially older adults, about a sophisticated text‑message scam that recently left a 76‑year‑old Long Island woman without $60,000. The fraud began with a message claiming suspicious activity on the victim’s Apple Pay account and stating that an extra $30,000 had been deposited.
The message instructed the woman to call a phone number. When she did, the caller claimed to be a bank representative and told her to withdraw $30,000 and meet the fraudster on a street corner in Williston Park. Following those instructions, the woman withdrew the cash and handed it over.
According to Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, the scammers repeated the scheme. “She went to the bank, removed $30,000, gave them that money. Since they were successful, that success breeds confidence; they came back and they did it again,” Ryder said. In total, the victim lost $60,000, which police say she has been unable to recover.
Police response and advice
Investigators have identified a man seen in surveillance video collecting the cash and are developing leads to locate him. Ryder emphasized that legitimate banks will never ask customers to withdraw cash and meet strangers on the street.
“Our advice is nobody’s going to do that. Nobody’s going to call you. So call us. Call the cops,” Ryder urged. He also encouraged families to protect personal information and be cautious about what they share publicly online.
Ryder warned that social‑media posts about family events can give scammers the details they need. “Everyone wants to talk about the great birthday party that he threw for grandma. She turned 80 today. Let’s have a birthday party. And they post these pictures. That’s where they get educated; these bad guys have nothing to do all day but figure out a way to screw the system,” he explained.
How to avoid similar scams
Police recommend the following steps for anyone who receives an unexpected text or call about banking or payment accounts:
- Do not provide personal or financial information to unsolicited callers.
- Never withdraw cash or meet strangers in person at the request of a caller.
- Verify any claim by contacting your bank directly using a phone number from the bank’s official website or your account statement.
- Report suspicious messages to local law enforcement immediately.
Ryder noted that embarrassment often prevents victims from coming forward, but reporting such incidents helps authorities track and stop scammers. “Embarrassment can sometimes prevent victims from reporting crimes, but we urge anyone who falls victim to a similar scam to contact law enforcement,” he said.
The Nassau County Police Department continues to investigate the case and asks anyone with information about the suspect seen in the surveillance footage to contact them.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
