State police arrested four people after investigating grandparent fraud and helped victims save $78,000

Two men arrested for attempted aggravated theft 3^rd Graduation in parish

On June 20, 2024, the New York State Police arrested Jadeja S. Jayrajsinh24 years old, from Ontario, Canada, and Aditya Mevawala24 years old, of Ontario, Canada, for Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class E Felony).

The investigation began when the 75-year-old female victim arrived at SP Pulaski with a large sum of cash. She stated that she received a call telling her that they were being accused of a crime. The person on the phone told the victim that they needed to hand over a large sum of money to avoid arrest and that a person would show up at their home to pick up the cash. The victim became suspicious and reported it.

The state police were able to arrest Jayrajsinh and Mevawala when they collected the money from the victim’s apartment. Both suspects were then taken to They were arraigned in Oswego County CAP Court for arraignment and released on bail.

Two men arrested for attempted third-degree grand larceny at Central Square

On June 27, 2024, the New York State Police arrested Zi-Liu29 years old, from Brooklyn, NY, and Julian29 years old, of Brooklyn, NY, for Attempted Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class E Felony).

A preliminary investigation revealed that a 72-year-old male victim was directed to a phone number after being told his Cash App had been hacked. The person on the phone told the victim to withdraw $38,000 in cash, which the person on the phone said would protect his money. The scammers told the victim they would come to his residence to collect the money. When the victim realized this was a possible scam, he contacted New York State Police.

State police subsequently arrested both suspects as they attempted to collect the money. They were transported to the Oswego County Jail for arraignment in CAP Court.

Here are some tips in case you receive such a call:

If someone calls you or sends you a message saying you need to pay for a crime or protect your account from hacking:

• Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story.
• Verify the person’s identity by asking questions that a stranger could not answer.
• Do not share any personal information (date of birth, social security number, address, etc.).
• Do not wire money, withdraw cash from a bank, or send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier.
• Report possible scams at ftc.gov/complaint or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.

Fraudsters use tricks

They imitate.

It’s surprisingly easy for a scammer to pretend to be someone else. The internet and social media make it easier to track down personal and family information. Scammers might also hack into the email account of someone you know. To make their story seem believable, they might involve another scammer claiming to be an authority figure, such as a lawyer or police officer.

They play with your emotions.

Scammers rely on your emotions to outweigh your skepticism. Sometimes they try to involve your family and loved ones by claiming they are in danger. Call the police and ask your family before falling for their antics.

They oblige you to maintain confidentiality.

Scammers may insist that you keep their money request confidential – so you can’t check their story and expose them as a scammer. They will tell you to go to a bank and withdraw a large amount of cash, saying it’s for a family loan, a car or a holiday so it doesn’t seem suspicious.