Police Arrest Suspect In Elder Fraud Probe After Walgreens Cash Pickup

TARRYTOWN, NY — A scam targeting an elderly Westchester victim was foiled by cops.

A Flushing man was arrested in Tarrytown after police said he took a second cash payment in a fraud scheme that targeted an elderly village resident. The Tarrytown Police Department said Benny Cai, 43, was arrested Thursday, in the parking lot of Walgreens on Wildey Street by members of the department's Detective Division working with the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force.

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The investigation began after an elderly Tarrytown resident received a text message with the heading "Apple Payment Warning." Police said the message falsely claimed there had been an unauthorized Apple transaction and told the resident to call a phone number for what was presented as Apple's financial department.

After the victim called, the scammers obtained remote access to the victim's computer, according to police. Investigators said the perpetrators altered information on the screen to make it appear that Apple had accidentally deposited about $50,000 into the victim's account, then demanded the money back in cash, according to cops.

Police said two cash payments were arranged. On Wednesday, the victim handed about $29,000 in cash to an unidentified person on Main Street in Tarrytown, according to investigators.

Detectives and task force members then coordinated surveillance around a second planned payment.

Police said Cai was stopped in the Walgreens parking lot after he received that second payment from the victim. During the investigation, Cai was also found to be in possession of cocaine, according to police.

Detectives said that Cai is part of an organized group involved in targeting elderly victims through financial fraud schemes. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to identify other people involved, according to the department.

Cai was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud, and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was processed and arraigned in Tarrytown Village Court , then released on his own recognizance.

The department urged residents, especially seniors and their families, to be wary of unsolicited messages or calls involving financial accounts or computer access. Police said legitimate technology companies and financial institutions will not demand cash repayments or ask customers to provide remote access to their computers in response to an unexpected warning.