Two Charged After Scamming Elderly Victim Out of $80,000 in Upstate New York

August 12, 2025

CLIFTON PARK, NY — On July 31, 2025, New York State Police, in coordination with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, arrested Chuncheng Lin, 26, of Brooklyn, and Hui Lin, 40, of Flushing, on charges of third-degree grand larceny and fifth-degree conspiracy.

The arrests stem from a computer scam reported on June 30 by an elderly Saratoga County resident who was targeted starting June 18. The victim was contacted online and by phone by an individual falsely claiming to represent the Citizens Bank Fraud Department. The suspect threatened legal action if the victim did not provide money, which was extorted through cash and gift cards. Over the course of a week, the victim lost more than $80,000.

On July 31, the suspects arranged to meet the victim in Halfmoon, NY, to collect an additional $30,000. Upon receiving a package believed to contain the money, Lin and Lin were taken into custody. Both suspects were processed and released with court dates scheduled for August 27, 2025.

The investigation remains ongoing.