A Flushing man was arrested Thursday after Nassau County police said he tried to collect another $18,000 from an 84-year-old Manorhaven woman who had already been scammed out of $30,000.
Han Bing Wu, 31, was arrested Sept. 17 after detectives learned the woman had been contacted again by someone seeking additional money, according to Nassau County police.
Police said the scam began Sept. 13, when the woman received a security alert on her computer that she believed came from Citibank’s fraud department.
The woman called the number provided in the alert and was instructed to withdraw $30,000 in cash, police said. She was told an FBI agent would meet her to retrieve the money.
The woman complied and turned the $30,000 over to an unknown man who met with her, according to detectives. She later realized she had been scammed and contacted police.
On Sept. 17, detectives learned the woman had been contacted by the same suspect and was being told to provide another $18,000, police said.
Wu arrived to meet the woman and retrieve the money at about 4:40 p.m., according to police. Detectives said Wu was not the same man who collected the initial $30,000.
Wu was arrested without incident. Police said he was also carrying a substance believed to be ketamine when he was taken into custody.
Wu was charged with attempted third-degree grand larceny and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Court records show his case was filed in Nassau District Court under docket CR-019174-26NA, with his arraignment scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18.
Police said Wu was carrying a substance believed to be ketamine when he was arrested. A court record associated with the controlled-substance charge, however, lists the drug as “crack.” No disposition or release status was listed as of Friday morning.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
Detectives are asking anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Wu to contact the Nassau County Police Department Sixth Squad at 516-573-6653.
Photo: Nassau County Police Department
