When a man named Ruan, an Asian-American from California, realized he had been scammed, he had already transferred the money. However, he quickly called the New York City Police Department (NYPD), who luckily intercepted the victim’s money.
According to a report from CBS, Mr. Ruan first saw a text message on his computer claiming his bank account had been hacked and that he needed to transfer $20,000 to the “Central Bank” in New York City.
Following the scammer’s instructions, Ruan withdrew $20,000 and sent it to an address in New York City.
After sending the package, Ruan suspected he had fallen for a scam and immediately contacted the NYPD.
Detective Justin Guzman of the NYPD answered Ruan’s call. In an interview with the television station, he said that the police department often receives such scam calls, but Ruan provided him with the location of the transfer and tracking number, leading him quickly to an apartment building in Queens, where he received the package containing the money.
This outcome left both the police and the victim feeling incredulous and fortunate.
However, the majority of victims are not as lucky, as often times the money cannot be recovered.
According to the NYPD, scammers often request victims to provide gift cards, using excuses like needing to avoid “arrest,” “power outage,” or in the case of Mr. Ruan, “providing technical support.”
“I must highly commend Detective Guzman,” said Ruan, who covered his face on television. “I don’t know why he believed me, but he realized it was true and took immediate action.”
The police warn citizens: do not engage with scammers over the phone, as these calls may sound legitimate but can induce panic and cause you to overlook warning signs.