A Queens man has been charged in connection with an alleged $350,000 fraud scheme in which scammers impersonated Chinese police officers and threatened a woman with criminal prosecution and extradition unless she transferred money, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Bingming Zhang, 29, of Flushing, was charged with criminal possession of stolen property after the victim allegedly transferred $350,000 into a Flagstar Bank account controlled by Zhang, prosecutors said.
The case was among those highlighted by the Queens District Attorney’s Office on Oct. 9 as part of a public warning about scammers posing as Chinese law enforcement officials and targeting members of the Chinese community.
According to prosecutors, the victim was falsely told she faced criminal charges in China and could be extradited unless she complied with demands to transfer money. Believing the threats, she allegedly sent $350,000 to an account associated with Zhang.
The transfers involved a Flagstar Bank branch in Fresh Meadows, Queens. The bank identified suspected fraudulent activity, and an employee contacted police when Zhang arrived at the branch. Zhang was subsequently arrested.
Flagstar Bank, which has its corporate headquarters at 102 Duffy Ave. in Hicksville, is not accused of wrongdoing. The alleged fraud occurred in Queens, and authorities have not identified any Nassau or Suffolk County residents as victims in this case.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office issued the warning to alert residents to scams involving individuals who falsely claim to represent Chinese police or other law enforcement authorities. The impersonators use threats of criminal charges and extradition to pressure victims into sending money.
The charges against Zhang are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Find Crime News in Your Town
Explore arrests, investigations and crime reports from communities across Long Island.
