BINGHAMTON, NY — Two men from Queens were arrested in Binghamton after allegedly attempting to scam an elderly woman out of $30,000 in a scheme that was intercepted thanks to quick-thinking bank employees, police said Thursday.
Tao Zeng, 51, and Zhilei Wu, 36, both from Flushing, were taken into custody and charged with third-degree grand larceny and fifth-degree conspiracy, according to the Binghamton Police Department.
The incident unfolded last Thursday when officials at Citizens Bank notified local police that an elderly customer had withdrawn $30,000 in cash—a move that raised red flags. Officers then performed a wellness check at the woman’s west side residence, suspecting a potential case of financial exploitation.
Shortly after police arrived at the home, a man showed up to collect the cash. When confronted, he fled on foot but was quickly caught by officers. A second suspect was located in a nearby vehicle and was also arrested at the scene.
The suspects were later identified as Zeng and Wu.
This local case comes just days after U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced the arrest of eight individuals accused of defrauding dozens of seniors out of more than $11 million using tactics like romance scams, identity theft, and account hacking.
Binghamton police credited bank vigilance and timely response for stopping the scam before the woman lost her life savings. The investigation remains active.
