A 32-year-old Woodside woman was arrested after a 70-year-old victim wired more than $919,000 in an elaborate scam and was later told to buy another $300,000 in gold, Nassau County police said.
Police said the Hicksville victim received a call telling her she had been involved in a crime in India and needed to withdraw money to resolve the situation.
Between June 29 and July 27, the woman withdrew and wired a total of $919,200, according to detectives.
The victim was contacted again on Sept. 1 and instructed to purchase another $300,000 worth of gold bars and coins, police said. She realized she was being scammed and contacted authorities.
Following an investigation, police located and arrested Fnu Tierigeli, 32, of Queens Boulevard in Woodside without incident.
Tierigeli was charged with second-degree attempted grand larceny and was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, Sept. 3, at First District Court in Hempstead.
Police did not specify in the release whether any of the $919,200 previously wired by the victim had been recovered.
The Nassau County Police Department urged residents to warn vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbors about potential scams and fraud. Anyone who believes they may have been victimized can contact the department’s Fraud and Forgery Section at 516-573-2815 or call 911. Police said callers can remain anonymous.
Photo: NCPD
