Martin County, FL — A man accused of running a tech support pop-up scam is behind bars after allegedly stealing thousands from an elderly resident.
Weikai Zhang, 43, is in custody at the Martin County Jail following his arrest in New York. He faces multiple charges, including organized scheme to defraud, exploitation of a person aged 65 or older, and conspiracy to commit grand theft.
According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Zhang is allegedly part of a broader criminal network that preys on seniors through internet-based scams. Authorities say he defrauded several victims while in Florida, including one Palm City woman, with total losses reaching approximately $613,000.
The case began in July 2024, when a Palm City resident contacted the sheriff’s office. She reported a pop-up message appearing on her computer screen, supposedly from Microsoft, warning her of a compromised bank account. Following the message’s instructions, she called the number provided.
On the phone, the scammer convinced the woman to withdraw $10,000 and later $30,000 after claiming her finances were at risk. Zhang allegedly visited her home to collect the cash.
Sheriff John Budensiek explained that pop-up scams like this often involve criminals posing as tech support agents to access victims’ financial information. Despite the challenge of tracking and arresting suspects in these cases, Zhang was apprehended and is now being held on a $700,000 bond.
