ALBANY, Ore. – Two Chinese nationals were arrested in connection with a scam that nearly defrauded an Albany resident of more than $37,000 earlier this month, according to Albany police.
The victim called the Albany Police Department on February 3, explaining that he believed his phone had been infected with a virus from ads on the Solitaire app he used. He had been receiving calls from a man named “Chris Wilson,” who claimed to be a PayPal employee and told him that his personal information had been compromised.
The victim was later connected with individuals named “Eddy Cooper” and “Mack Jones,” who allegedly worked for the financial department of Edward Jones. They informed him that he had been “hacked” for $37,500. The scammers instructed the victim to deposit the same amount to “mirror” the funds taken and avoid further issues.
Following the instructions, the victim deposited $10,000 into a Bitcoin kiosk while speaking with “Mack.” He was then told to keep the remaining money at home to be picked up by a courier. At this point, the victim grew suspicious and contacted police.
On February 4, Albany police set up a sting operation to catch the scammers. A vehicle arrived to pick up the money, and one suspect, later identified as Yong Xue, 32, gave a passcode to an undercover officer, confirming his identity.
Xue attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended, while the driver, 36-year-old Zhen He, was arrested as well. Both suspects were taken to the Linn County Jail on charges of aggravated theft and conspiracy to commit aggravated theft. Police confirmed that both men are Chinese nationals and have alerted the Chinese consulate. The FBI and the Assistant United States Attorney have joined the investigation.
Authorities believe Xue and He could be involved in additional fraud cases and urge anyone with similar experiences to contact the Albany Police Department at 541-917-7680. Albany police are also encouraging residents to remain vigilant about scams and educate vulnerable adults in the community.
