Brooklyn Man Scammed Westchester Resident Out Of $28K: Police

BEDFORD, NY — A Westchester man fell victim to an online scam, and police say it turns out the swindler wasn't far away.

The Bedford Police Department said that they received a report last Thursday evening from a person who had been scammed out of $28,000 cash earlier that day.

The victim told police that they had received a pop-up security alert appearing to be from "Microsoft" on their home computer. A phone number to call for support was also included in the pop-up.

After dialing the number, the victim believed they were speaking to Microsoft and was told that a cash payment would be necessary to safeguard their accounts and complete the repairs.

On Friday, Bedford Police Department detectives investigated the incident and found that the victim was still being contacted with requests for additional money.

Police were able to identify and arrest 48-year-old Jinguan Li, of Brooklyn, who was found with more than $100,000 in cash, according to investigators.

Li was charged with felony grand larceny and arraigned in the Town of Bedford Justice Court where he was released on his own recognizance.

Police say the incident remains under investigation with the Bedford Detective Bureau, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, as well as surrounding police jurisdictions. Additional charges are expected.

Bedford police recommend that residents always be vigilant when using the internet and computers. Any pop-ups or links should be fully reviewed before clicking on them. If you have any concerns regarding possible fraudulent activity, speak with your financial institution or contact police.

They ask that residents also speak with elderly friends and family about internet, computer and phone safety as they are targeted more than others.