An 85-year-old Northport woman has had $30,000 returned after falling victim to a computer-based scam, as two men face felony charges in connection with the scheme, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said.
Chao Chen, 34, of Queens, was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree. Guiming Zhu, 44, of Brooklyn, was charged with Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree. Authorities allege both men participated in a “confidence scam” that targeted the victim’s retirement savings.
According to investigators, the scam began on September 29, 2025, when the victim received multiple pop-up alerts on her computer claiming her system had been compromised. One message directed her to call a phone number for assistance.
During a two-hour call, the victim spoke with someone who falsely claimed to work for Apple. She was then transferred to another individual posing as a representative from her bank, who told her that $45,000 had been fraudulently charged to her accounts, including charges on pornographic websites.
The following day, the victim was instructed to withdraw $30,000 in cash and turn it over for “safekeeping.” Authorities allege Chen went to the victim’s home and collected the money.
After becoming suspicious, the victim contacted the Northport Village Police Department on October 1, 2025. The next day, the scammers allegedly attempted to obtain an additional $30,000.
Investigators identified Chen and Zhu as suspects and traced a vehicle linked to the scheme. On October 3, 2025, law enforcement in Franklin County, Georgia, stopped the vehicle and recovered the $30,000. The driver was not arrested and is believed to have fled to China.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office worked with law enforcement in Georgia to secure a court order returning the funds to the victim, an outcome officials said is rare in cases involving fraud schemes of this type.
Chen was arraigned on October 2, 2025, and released under supervision. He is due back in court on May 11, 2026. Zhu was arraigned in absentia on December 1, 2025, and later taken into custody on February 9, 2026, on an unrelated warrant. He is also scheduled to appear in court on May 11, 2026.
Prosecutors said scams like this rely on urgency and deception to pressure victims into acting quickly. Authorities urge residents not to share personal or banking information over the phone and to contact law enforcement if they suspect fraudulent activity.
Criminal charges are accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
