Two New York men were arrested by the Norwich Police Department in Connecticut on Tuesday following a local resident allegedly losing a significant amount of money to an online scam.
According to the Connecticut Post, 30-year-old Yu Dong Li from Queens, New York City, and 32-year-old Kun Chen from Brooklyn were accused of orchestrating a meticulously designed fraud scheme, where victims were led to believe they were engaging in legitimate financial transactions only to be deceived. They are currently facing first-degree criminal attempt and larceny charges, with bail set at $150,000 each. They appeared in Norwich Superior Court in Connecticut on Wednesday.
Authorities stated that the victims fell into the fraudulent trap during the week of February 9th, resulting in substantial initial losses. Investigators found that Li and Chen attempted to further defraud more funds after their initial success. Following an in-depth investigation, the Norwich Police Detective Division collaborated with the Connecticut State Police BSI to apprehend the suspects during a meeting on Tuesday.
Besse, spokesperson for the Norwich Police Department, stated, “We are committed to seeking justice for victims of online scams and are working closely with state and federal agencies to combat such crimes.” Police also advised the public to exercise caution during online transactions and promptly report any suspicious activities to law enforcement.
Authorities urged anyone who suspects they may be a victim of fraud to contact the Norwich Police Department at 860-886-5561 or call the national Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) for further assistance.