Arrests made after seniors targeted in ‘shoebox’ scam

PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. - Two men are facing felony charges after attempting to steal thousands of dollars from local seniors. 

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office reported that on Monday, March 31, a deputy was called to a home in Putnam Valley by a 79-year-old resident who had been contacted by someone claiming to a representative of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 

The victim had previously handed over more than $25,000 to pay “fines,” and was instructed to wrap additional cash in a shoebox for retrieval. 

Investigators from the  Sheriff's Office were able to listen to phone calls between the suspect and the victim, and coordinated the arrest of Ye Xu of Flushing, NY when he came to collect more money.

A similar incident was reported on April 3 in the Town of Southeast. 

Officers were dispatched to a residence to perform a welfare check on an 83-year-old resident who had recently withdrawn $20,000 in cash from a local bank. 

The bank staff believed that the customer was possibly the victim of a scam and informed authorities. Police were able to contact that victim and learned that they had received phone calls similar to the Putnam Valley incident, instructing them to leave the money in a shoebox for retrieval. 

Hengjian Wang, 39, of Flushing, NY, was arrested later in the day when he approached the residence to pick up the cash. 

Xu and Wang were both charged with Attempted Grand Larceny 3rd degree, a class D felony.

They were processed and released with appearance tickets for a future date in the Towns of Putnam Valley and Southeast Courts, respectively.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office asks all residents to keep an eye on elderly relatives and neighbors, and reminds residents that the government will never ask for money in gift cards or shoe boxes.