Like something out of a bad spy thriller, this is a Lower Salford Township Police tale of how an elderly woman was allegedly scammed out of $20,000 – twice – by a 21-year-old New York man posing as an FBI agent, at one point meeting up secretly with the suspect to pass off a bag of money in exchange for a passcode.
It was only when Ji "Jason” Zhaoxang, of the 4600 block of Utopia Parkway, Flushing, allegedly showed up in the dark on March 22, with a flashlight, at the alleged victim’s Montgomery Drive home to collect another $20,000, that police, sitting in an unmarked police car right next to him, arrested him for felony theft by unlawful taking, according to the affidavit.
All in all, Zhaoxang faces five felonies, including the theft unlawful taking charge: Criminal attempt to commit theft, theft by deception, criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, and receiving stolen property. He also faces a misdemeanor count of impersonating a police officer.
Zhaoxang, who will turn 22 on Sunday, is free on $25,000 unsecured bond, according to the criminal docket.
Lower Salford Township Police met with the alleged 82-year-old victim at her Montgomery Woods apartment on March 22, where she relayed to them how a man who identified himself as Martin Davis from the FBI called her earlier in the week and told her that her computer and bank account had been hacked, according to the complaint.
Then, over the next three days, police said, a man named Mike Anderson called multiple times and helped the woman setup an email account. Soon thereafter, the alleged victim received an email on March 20 that had an FBI symbol, an agent’s signature, and further details in order to convince her of the legitimacy of Davis’ and Anderson’s claims, police allege.
The email stated that "fraud prevention officer in charge, David Chan, has been appointed to direct you through the financial protection procedure for securing your funds with the U.S. Treasury Office before your accounts are subsequently suspended by the United States Government,” per the affidavit.
Following the directions given, the woman took out $20,000 cash from her bank, placed it in a plastic bag, and then left her phone off the hook for further instructions, police said. She was told on the phone that Chan would arrive at her home and provide passcode 1199.
On March 22, at 3:30 p.m., the alleged victim, police said, met with Chan by a Dumpster outside her apartment, where she handed over the bag of cash, and he told her, "1199.” He was described as an Asian male with black curly hair, and wearing a black sweater and white pants, police said.
The next day, at 12:30 p.m., the alleged victim spoke to Anderson again, police said, and told her to withdraw another $20,000 cash, which she did and then placed in a paper bag. Anderson told her to wrap the money in newspaper and hold it together with rubber bands, according to the complaint.
Following the call, the woman contacted police. While police were on scene, the woman picked up her phone and asked a man on the other end, who identified himself as "Andy,” if someone was coming to get the money, police said. She was told they were five minutes away, and then police moved into position.
About 20 minutes went by with police sitting in an unmarked patrol car when a man was seen walking toward the apartment around 8 p.m., police said.
Investigators said the man, later identified as Zhaoxang, was holding a phone and looking at the apartment building, before a second man approached him and struck up a conversation. They pointed at the building, police said, and then officers watched a flashlight beam move along the front of the building and stop on the apartment number that matched the alleged victim’s apartment.
Zhaoxang, police allege, walked toward the apartment and knocked on the door. Then, suddenly, officers approached him and arrested him.
The alleged victim, per the affidavit, identified Zhaoxang as the man who took the bag of $20,000 cash days prior. Zhaoxang told police another man offered to pay him $800 for picking up the $20,000 package, and he was given a code to give to the alleged victim at the exchange, according to police.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 10 at 12:15 p.m. before District Judge Adam T. Katzman in Lower Salford.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
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