A Canton man, Li Biao, has been arrested after attempting to scam an 84-year-old woman out of $25,000. The scam was foiled when the woman’s family noticed suspicious transactions and contacted the police.
According to Canton police, Biao, 30, called the victim earlier this month claiming to be a senior fraud officer from her bank. Over four days, Biao convinced the elderly woman to withdraw large sums of money and hand it over to a supposed coworker, who would pick it up from her home.
The victim’s family became suspicious and immediately alerted authorities. Detectives set up a sting operation and were waiting for Biao when he arrived on Dec. 17 to collect the $25,000 in cash.
Biao, a Chinese national who was not legally in the United States, was arrested and charged with fraudulent false pretenses for amounts between $20,000 and $50,000, as well as assaulting, resisting, or obstructing police officers. He is currently being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
Canton Support Services Capt. Joseph Bialy emphasized the importance of family vigilance when it comes to protecting elderly relatives from financial exploitation. “This is a tragic example of elder exploitation, with the suspect defrauding and stealing from the victim by taking advantage of her vulnerability due to age,” said Bialy.
He urged families and caregivers to watch for warning signs such as sudden changes in financial habits, missing funds, or unexplained large withdrawals, and to report any suspicious activity to local authorities.