New York Western District Federal Prosecutor said on the 24th that a 42-year-old Chinese man is accused of defrauding $53,000 in cash from an elderly woman in Ogdensburg, New York, and returning less than a month later to attempt to claim an additional $50,000, only to be arrested by local authorities and later detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) awaiting deportation.
According to court documents, Chun Yan, allegedly entered the United States illegally from Mexico in 2023. On February 24, 2026, he drove 6 hours from Brooklyn to the residence of an elderly woman in Ogdensburg. The prosecution claimed that the victim was previously told that if she did not make a payment to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), federal agents would freeze her assets, thus leading her to hand over $53,000 in cash to Chun Yan.
On March 19, Ogdensburg police arrested Chun Yan when he returned for a second time and charged him with second-degree grand larceny, attempted second-degree grand larceny, and fourth-degree conspiracy. With assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, New York State Police, and the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Chun Yan’s accomplice, Canjian Chen from Flushing, a 42-year-old Chinese man, was also arrested.
After being released by local law enforcement on March 20, Chun Yan was arrested and detained by ICE. He later applied for an immigration protection order in federal court, seeking release and claiming he was “arbitrarily arrested” by ICE. West District Federal District Judge Meredith A. Vacca denied his application, stating that under the Laken Riley Act, Chun Yan met the criteria for immigration detention.
Ogdensburg police also cautioned the public that no government agency would ask individuals to send prepaid gift cards or ship cash in boxes to anyone. Additionally, warning signs of common scams include receiving calls claiming that a family member has been arrested or hospitalized and demands for money transfers, as well as coercive tactics and threats of arrest, asset seizure, among others. Fraudulent characteristics may include foreign accents, confusing statements, or claims of abnormal card charges without specific details.
Authorities advise individuals who receive suspicious calls to verify their authenticity with local police before sending money to any organization. If receiving calls about credit card or financial card fraud accusations, it is recommended to directly visit the bank in person or call the verified official phone number to inquire. Banks are familiar with these scam tactics, and individuals should heed the professional advice of bank staff when withdrawing large sums of cash and refrain from trusting unknown calls.