Three men pled guilty to stealing nearly $100,000 from an elderly Willoughby resident.
According to police, the crime started with a phone call. The caller informed the elderly woman that she owed $342 via PayPal. While attempting to make that first payment, she informed the caller that she had accidentally entered the amount of $34,200 instead of $342, and the caller persuaded her to meet and give that cash after withdrawing it from her bank,” said Michael Sevel, detective lieutenant for the Willoughby Police Department.
Over a two-week period, authorities say the woman met with the burglars three times and paid them roughly $94,000. Investigators believe the attackers targeted her based on her age. A lot of the time, the people they’re targeting are mentally weakened and easily confused,” Sevel explained.
He stated that it is unknown how the accused persuaded her into giving them the money. It began with the PayPal thing but quickly evolved into, for lack of a better description, a romantic scam, in which she understood she was being duped but went along with it almost because she was too terrified to stop it,” explained Sevel.
The woman’s bank alerted a family member on November 20 after spotting big sums of money being withdrawn. A family member then contacted the Willoughby Police Department.
According to police, Bingzhi Deng, Xiaojing Wu, and Long Zhang were arrested on December 3, 2025, while illegally present in the country. The three have pled guilty to attempted theft from a protected class member, a third-degree crime, and possession of criminal instruments, a fifth-degree felony.
The police said a combined investigation with the FBI began after authorities learned on Nov. 20, 2025, that an elderly woman had lost around $93,000.
On December 3, investigators performed a sting operation and detained three suspects for collecting $40,000 in counterfeit money. I believe she’s pleased that it’s all over and that at least some of those involved in the scheme have been prosecuted,” Sevel added.
The trio is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. According to police, a fourth person involved in the plan was identified and arrested on January 14. That individual is awaiting trial and is being put in jail on a $250,000 bond.
Police suspect the accused worked for call centers in other countries. They get this victim on the phone and then send a message to their courier network saying, “Hey, we have this address.” We need you to pick up from this address, and it’s up to whoever is available,” Sevel explained.
The detective emphasized the importance of checking in on elderly loved ones, stating that similar situations are prevalent. If they’re talking about someone they’re talking to on the computer or on the phone, or if you observe huge sums of money being removed from their bank account or around their residence, simply make sure they’re not a victim of a hoax,” Sevel explained.
Any Willoughby resident who suspects they have been targeted by a fraud should contact the police at 440-953-4212.
Leave a Comment