$200,000 Attempted Bank Fraud Fails, Results In Arrest: Darien PD

DARIEN, CT — A 27-year-old Greenwich woman was arrested by Darien police last week after she fraudulently tried to access the $200,000 Wells Fargo Bank account of a man she met by pretending to be his step-daughter, according to authorities.

Yessenia Perez, of King Street, returned to the Wells Fargo Bank on the Post Road in Darien numerous times over a two-week period this month claiming that she was given authority to close out the customer's account.

"[Perez] told employees that she was the account holder’s step-daughter, and had been granted power-of- attorney over the account holder’s affairs," wrote Darien police in a statement. "She further provided what she purported to be supporting documentation. The female told bank employees that she was to 'close out her father’s account,' and be given the balance (over $200,000) in cash. The bank’s legal department denied the paperwork several times, and would not grant the request."

After police contacted the owner of the account, he gave a written statement indicating that he had only met Perez two week earlier while he has been living at the America’s Best Value Inn in Stamford.

"The victim had allowed Perez to stay with him the past two weeks after she had gotten into a fight with her roommate," wrote police. "The victim further stated that he is in failing health, and did not give any permissions to Perez regarding his personal affairs, to include his bank accounts."

Darien police obtained an arrest warrant for Perez, and on May 16, members of the department's Patrol and Detective divisions went to the East Main Street motel and arrested Perez on a charge of criminal attempt at first-degree larceny. She was released on a promise to appear in Stamford Superior Court on May 30.

Additionally, the State Department of Social Services was notified of the incident, and will be following up with the victim, according to police.

Photo: Yessenia Perez. Photo credit: Darien Police Department