An elderly New York resident handed over approximately $29,000 after scammers sent a fake Apple payment warning, gained remote access to the victim’s computer and manipulated information on the screen to make it appear that tens of thousands of dollars had been deposited by mistake.
Benny Cai, 43, of Flushing, was arrested Sept. 24 in Tarrytown after police say he arrived for a second cash collection from the same victim. The Tarrytown Police Department said detectives worked with the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force to conduct surveillance around the planned exchange.
Cai was charged with first-degree scheme to defraud, fourth-degree grand larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said cocaine was recovered during the investigation.
Police said Cai was arraigned in Tarrytown Village Court on Sept. 25 and released on his own recognizance. His next court appearance was scheduled for Sept. 30.
The Scam Started With an ‘Apple Payment Warning’
Police said the victim initially received a text message headed “Apple Payment Warning” claiming that an unauthorized Apple transaction had occurred. The message included a phone number presented as belonging to Apple’s financial department.
After the victim called the number, the people on the other end persuaded the resident to give them remote access to the computer.
Investigators said the scammers manipulated information displayed on the screen to make it appear that Apple had accidentally deposited approximately $50,000 into the victim’s account.
The victim was then told that the supposed overpayment had to be returned through two separate cash deliveries. On Sept. 23, the resident handed approximately $29,000 in cash to a person on Main Street in Tarrytown.
Detectives Watched the Planned Second Cash Pickup
Tarrytown detectives learned that a second cash collection had been arranged and worked with the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force to watch the planned exchange.
Police say Cai arrived Sept. 24 at the Walgreens parking lot at 162 Wildey Street and received the second cash payment from the victim. Investigators then moved in and arrested him.
During the investigation, police said Cai was found in possession of cocaine.
Tarrytown Police said investigators believe Cai is associated with an organized group targeting elderly victims through financial fraud schemes and are continuing efforts to identify others allegedly involved.
Cai Faces Fraud, Larceny and Drug Charges
Police charged Cai with first-degree scheme to defraud, fourth-degree grand larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
He was arraigned the following day in Tarrytown Village Court and released on his own recognizance. Police listed his next appearance for Sept. 30.
Cai is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Apple Says Suspicious Security Alerts Should Be Checked Through Official Channels
Apple warns that pop-ups claiming a device has a security problem may be fraudulent and advises users not to call telephone numbers displayed in those alerts. Suspicious messages or calls claiming to be from Apple should instead be checked through Apple’s official support channels.
Apple also warns about fraudulent emails, text messages and phone calls that impersonate trusted companies. The company says it will not ask customers to provide their Apple Account password or verification codes or to disable security protections.
The remote-access method described by Tarrytown Police closely resembles a scam pattern identified by the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC says scammers may gain remote access to a computer, make it appear that too much money was refunded and then demand that the victim return the supposed excess.
The FTC advises people who receive an unexpected tech-support message to contact the company directly using a telephone number they know is legitimate rather than the number supplied in the message. It also advises checking bank or credit-card accounts directly when a supposed charge is involved.
