A Bronx man was arrested Tuesday after Suffolk County police said he stole money from a 65-year-old Center Moriches woman during a bank phone scam.
Police said the woman received a call on Sept. 30 from a man claiming to be a Chase bank representative. The caller said her account had been compromised and instructed her to transfer $44,000 into another account.
Soon after, police said $28,000 was withdrawn from two Chase bank branches in New Jersey.
The woman reported the incident to police, and Suffolk County Financial Crimes Unit detectives recovered $16,000 before it was withdrawn, police said.
Detectives determined Servando Ruiz Cuenca, 45, of the Bronx, was responsible for the thefts, according to police. With help from the NYPD Warrants Squad, he was arrested Tuesday at 7:38 a.m. at his home on Barretto Street in the Bronx.
Ruiz Cuenca was charged with third-degree grand larceny. He was set to be held overnight at the Third Precinct and arraigned Wednesday, May 27, at First District Court in Central Islip.
Police said anyone who believes they were targeted in a similar scam can contact Suffolk County Financial Crimes Unit detectives at 631-852-6821.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
