Suspect Attempted $25,000 Scam On Elderly Fairfield Resident, Cops Say

FAIRFIELD, CT — A 27-year-old Brooklyn, New York man was arrested on a charge of first-degree criminal attempt at larceny Tuesday, after Fairfield police said he tried to swindle an elderly local woman out of $25,000.

Bin Sun was arrested near the victim's Fairfield home, after detectives, with the victim's help, "initiated a surveillance operation to apprehend" him, according to Sgt. Michael Stahl.

"The investigation began when the victim received an email earlier in the day, purportedly from'Geek Squad,' falsely claiming a $525.00 purchase," Stahl wrote in a statement. "To dispute the charge, the victim called the phone number provided in the email and spoke with a male who claimed to be a member of Geek Squad. Believing the interaction to be legitimate, the victim unsuspectingly provided bank account information and granted remote access to her computer, under the false pretense of receiving a refund."

But the scammer wasn't finished. He then "manipulated the victim into believing a fictitious refund of $25,000.00 had been mistakenly processed," according to Stahl.

"The victim was then coerced into withdrawing $20,000.00 in cash from her bank, with additional plans to collect $5,000.00 the following day," Stahl said. "The scammer assured the victim that someone would stop by their home to collect the initial $20,000."

She then contacted police, and detectives set up the surveillance detail.

"Detectives observed a vehicle park across from the victim’s home, matching the description provided by the scammer," Stahl said. "The operator of the vehicle was subsequently identified as Bin Sun and was detained."

While searching Sun, detectives found an undisclosed but "substantial amount of cash" on him, and discovered that he had traveled from Brooklyn to fraudulently obtain more money.

Sun was released after posting bond on bail of $10,000, and he is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Feb. 20.

"This operation highlights the dedication of our Detective Bureau and Patrol personnel in protecting our community from scams targeting vulnerable individuals. Their quick response and decisive action prevented a significant financial loss," Stahl said. "Residents are urged to remain vigilant against scams, verify communications, and promptly report suspicious activities to police."