OCEAN COUNTY — A New York man, who jail records identify as a citizen of China, was arrested after authorities said he took part in a scam that defrauded an Ocean County senior citizen.
Berkeley Township police said officers responded May 25 to a home in the Holiday City section for a reported theft. The victim told police she had been using her home computer in April when a fraudulent Microsoft error message appeared on her screen with a phone number to call.
After calling the number, the woman was told by a man claiming to be from Microsoft that her bank accounts had been compromised, police said.
Over the next several weeks, the victim was allegedly deceived by scammers who claimed to be government agents with the Federal Trade Commission. Police said the scammers convinced her they were trying to protect her money by storing it.
Before contacting police, the woman had already turned over a large amount of cash, including money handed to a courier during a local meeting and a separate wire transfer, authorities said.
Even after the victim realized it was a scam, police said the suspects continued contacting her and claimed banks were corrupt, urging her to give them her remaining money for safekeeping.
Detectives canvassed the area where one exchange occurred and obtained surveillance footage from nearby homes and businesses. Police said the footage helped identify the suspect and vehicle used in the earlier meeting.
Investigators later arranged for the suspects to travel from New York to collect what they believed was the victim’s remaining cash. Police said the same courier drove past the victim’s home before going to a prearranged meeting location.
Detectives and patrol officers watched the suspect in a white BMW and arrested him without incident.
Police identified him as Ren Xin Huang, 54, of Flushing, New York. According to Ocean County jail records, Huang is listed as a citizen of the People’s Republic of China and also had an immigration detainer listed.
Huang was charged with third-degree theft by deception, third-degree money laundering, conspiracy to commit theft by deception and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was taken to Berkeley Township police headquarters and later lodged in the Ocean County Jail under New Jersey’s bail reform guidelines.
Jail records also listed a fugitive from justice charge.
Police said additional evidence was seized and remains under investigation. Additional charges could be filed.
Authorities emphasized that the charges are accusations and that Huang is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The Berkeley Township Police Department credited the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Homeland Security Investigations and the Bluefield, West Virginia, Police Department for assisting with the case.
Police reminded residents that legitimate banks, government agencies and financial institutions will never ask customers to withdraw or transfer money for “safekeeping.” Anyone who receives such a request should contact their financial institution through official channels and notify law enforcement.
