Queens Couple Tried To Scam Elderly Woman Out Of Thousands: NCPD

A couple from Queens was arrested in Roosevelt Monday morning after police say they were identified as part of an investigation into a scam targeting a senior citizen from Minnesota.

According to police, on April 3, an 84-year-old woman from Goodhue, Minnesota received a phone call from an unknown person who claimed to be an attorney and that her grandson was in police custody. The person told her to purchase multiple gift cards -- totaling $2,750 -- and give them the codes over the phone. The woman did so, police say.

On April 5, the woman was called by the person again and told that in order to get her grandson into a work release program, they needed $5,100 in cash to be mailed to a home on Hudson Avenue in Roosevelt. The woman went to a UPS store, and the employee there told her she should call the police before mailing the money.

The Goodhue Police Department contacted the Nassau County Police Department and told them of the situation. On Monday, April 15, Nassau detectives said they saw Jiarui Chen, 25, of Queens, arrive at the Roosevelt address and take the package from the front porch. Police arrested him without incident. After an investigation, police located his car and arrested his wife, Yue Niu, 26, of Queens. The car was impounded.

Both Chen and Niu are charged with third-degree attempted grand larceny. Chen is scheduled to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Tuesday. Niu was issued an appearance ticket returnable to First District Court on May 13.

Police say the investigation is ongoing. Police ask anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of this scam to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All calls will remain anonymous.

Defendants Jiarui Chen and Yue Niu are each charged with Attempted Grand Larceny 3rd degree. Defendant Jiarui Chen will be arraigned on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at First District Court 99 Main Street Hempstead. Defendant Yue Niu was issued an appearance ticket returnable to First District Court on Monday, May 13, 2019.