Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in Person County, North Carolina, in connection with a multi-county scam that defrauded elderly victims of over $140,000. Authorities say Yunlong Lin and Linghui Zheng orchestrated a complex PayPal reimbursement scam that has now drawn the attention of federal investigators, including the Department of Homeland Security.
The investigation began when a senior citizen in Person County reported losing more than $30,000 after receiving an email claiming they were owed a reimbursement. The victim was directed to call a number, at which point Lin and Zheng allegedly gained access to the victim’s computer. After obtaining login credentials and bank details, the suspects transferred funds from the victim’s savings to their checking account. They then told the victim that too much money had been reimbursed and instructed them to withdraw the overage and return it.
To avoid suspicion at the bank, the scammers told the victim to claim the money was for purchasing a vehicle. What makes the case even more alarming is that Lin and Zheng personally arrived at the victim’s home to collect the money. A similar tactic was attempted again the next day, but this time, the bank grew suspicious and contacted the sheriff’s office. Deputies then coordinated with the bank and waited outside the victim’s residence. When the suspects arrived to retrieve the second payment, they were arrested on the spot.
Further investigation revealed that the two had allegedly run similar scams in Granville County, Durham, and Clayton, with one individual losing over $50,000. The suspects were driving a Lexus with New York plates (LVS-7198), and deputies found a dash cam in the vehicle containing footage of their travels, including extended time spent in the Myrtle Beach area and other parts of South Carolina and Tennessee. Authorities also recovered an Apple AirTag, leading investigators to believe that Lin and Zheng are part of a larger organized scam network.
Both men are reportedly in the United States illegally and are now being held on federal detainers. They each face one count of obtaining property by false pretense, two counts of felony accessing computers, and one count of felony conspiracy. Their bonds were set at $250,000 each, and more charges are expected.
So far, roughly $17,000 has been recovered, but the full scope of the fraud remains under investigation. The recovered funds are being held as evidence, so the victim has not yet been reimbursed.
Sheriff Jason Wilborn urged the public to stay vigilant, warning that scams are becoming more aggressive and personal, with criminals even showing up at victims’ homes. He emphasized the importance of verifying unsolicited communications and reporting suspicious activity immediately.
“We are grateful for the cooperation of the financial institution and the victim in this investigation,” said Wilborn. “Our office remains committed to protecting the citizens of Person County and ensuring those who seek to exploit them are held accountable.”
