Two Arrested in New York for Defrauding Georgia Resident of $40,000
Two New York men, Ying Chen (39) and Jian Jun Zhan (34), have been arrested for defrauding a Habersham County resident out of $40,000. The scam involved a fake PayPal email and a fraudulent call, with the victim tricked into handing over cash to a man who showed up at their home with a secret pass code.
The victim initially handed over $40,000 in cash after being instructed to do so by someone claiming to be from PayPal. Authorities later discovered that the victim was also instructed to withdraw another $30,000 from their US bank, but a bank alert to a family member led to the suspects' arrest. During the arrest, authorities seized four cellphones, Zhan's wallet with bank cards from PNC Bank, $3,970 in cash, and the suspects' van. The investigation is ongoing, and it's not yet determined if Chen and Zhan were part of a larger fraud operation. They have been charged with theft by deception and denied bond.
Chen and Zhan's arrest follows a complex scam involving fake PayPal communications and a significant financial loss for the victim. Authorities continue to investigate the case, with further details yet to be released. The suspects remain in custody, awaiting their next court appearance.
