Queens Woman Arrested In $919K Elder Scam In Hicksville: Police

HICKSVILLE, NY — A Queens woman was arrested on Wednesday after police said she was accused of scamming a 70-year-old woman into withdrawing and wiring nearly $1 million.

A 70-year-old woman received a phone call telling her she was involved in a crime in India and needed to withdraw money, Nassau County police said. The woman complied between June 29 and July 27, withdrawing and wiring $919,000, police said.

The woman was contacted again and told she needed to purchase $300,000 in gold bars and coins, police said. She contacted police after realizing she was being scammed, according to police.

Upon investigation, Fnu Tierigeli, 32, of Woodside, was located and arrested, police said.

According to police, Tierigeli was charged with second-degree attempted grand larceny and will be arraigned on Thursday at the First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said the community should be on alert and remind vulnerable loved ones about potential scams or frauds. Those who fear they may have been involved in a scam or fraud can contact the NCPD and Forgery Section at 516-573-2815 or call 911 – all callers will remain anonymous, police said.