Branford police have arrested Wenjie He, a 31-year-old man from Queens, New York, as part of an ongoing investigation into a texting scam believed to funnel money back into a criminal enterprise. He was charged with first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, first-degree telephone fraud, and conspiracy to commit first-degree telephone fraud. He is currently being held on a $200,000 bond, according to a police statement on Facebook.
Authorities believe He traveled to Branford to collect a “large sum of cash” linked to this fraudulent activity. The investigation continues as police seek to locate additional individuals who may be involved in the scam.
Branford police reported that these scams often start with a simple text message that reads, “Hello.”
“Scammers are using these messages to initiate conversations and build fake online relationships with unsuspecting victims,” police explained. The fraudsters typically pose as friends, romantic interests, or business partners to gain trust.
Once rapport is established, the scammer solicits financial assistance, often requesting money for investments or favors that involve transferring funds or sharing personal information. In some instances, couriers are dispatched to collect cash directly from the victims, escalating the scam’s impact.
Authorities remind the public to stay alert and report any suspicious messages to help combat such fraudulent schemes.