A group of young scam artists is targeting well-meaning New Yorkers, using an increasingly common city-wide scam that involves hijacking phones to steal large sums of money. The NYPD has linked these incidents to a growing crime pattern across Manhattan and Brooklyn, with a total of 39 known cases in 2024 alone. In total, the scammers have swindled more than $76,500.
The scam begins when a person approaches a victim, claiming they are raising money for a struggling basketball team. While one scammer distracts the victim with conversation, another hijacks the victim’s phone, using it to wire thousands of dollars via apps like Zelle and Venmo. None of the victims involved are older than 36, with most being in their 20s.
The perpetrators have targeted neighborhoods including South Street Seaport, Midtown East, Union Square, the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Park Slope, TriBeCa, Wall Street, Madison Square Park, and Brooklyn Heights. The NYPD has identified at least one case from the Upper West Side in May, which is connected to a broader scheme.
Four suspects, all aged 21 or younger, have been charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree in connection with these scams. Among the victims is former Miss New York USA Briana Siaca, who fell victim to the scam while sitting in Madison Square Park. After a dental surgery, Siaca was approached by two teenagers who claimed they needed money for a South Bronx basketball team. When she agreed to help but could only pay via Zelle and Venmo, one of the scammers grabbed her phone while the other continued the conversation.
“I realized something was off when he took too long with my phone. When I checked my account, they had transferred $2,000 to themselves,” Siaca recounted.
Jakeem Scott (21), Aviana Clark (19), Jaheem Scott (21), and Tymir Black (19), all from Jersey City, have been arrested multiple times in connection with similar incidents. A 15-year-old has also been arrested for their involvement in two separate scams.
The NYPD is advising New Yorkers never to give their phones to strangers and to be cautious when asked to transfer money for purported charitable causes, including sports teams or non-profits.
Siaca’s case, though involving a clear scam, did not result in any arrests or charges for the perpetrators. The NYPD continues to investigate and urges anyone with information to come forward.
