A 40-year-old Chinese national was arrested in Springdale Township on Friday in connection with a large-scale scam that defrauded a local elderly man of over $130,000.
Zhudi Chen, of New York, faces charges of felony theft and financial exploitation. Police believe he is part of an international fraud ring targeting vulnerable individuals through sophisticated social engineering tactics.
Allegheny Valley Regional Police Chief Michael Naviglia said the arrest was the result of a joint undercover sting operation between his department and the FBI. It marks the department’s first successful operation of this kind.
According to police, the scam began when fraudsters posed as federal agents investigating a corrupt PNC Bank employee. They allegedly infected the 76-year-old victim’s computer with malware, making it appear as though funds were deposited into his accounts. Under this false pretense, the scammers instructed the man to withdraw large amounts of cash.
Over a period of time, the victim handed over approximately $130,000 in three separate in-person cash exchanges. Police became involved when the scammers requested a fourth exchange — this time for more than $103,000 worth of gold.
With law enforcement now tracking the case, the fourth handoff was used as a setup. Chen arrived at the victim’s residence in a white Volkswagen with out-of-state plates. Upon arrival, he was immediately arrested by Chief Naviglia and FBI agents.
The vehicle and additional suspects remain unaccounted for.
Chen reportedly told officers he had entered the U.S. illegally and had previously been detained by Homeland Security. Because he has no local connections, District Judge Bruce J. Boni denied him bond. He is currently being held in Allegheny County Jail.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 20 before District Judge Michael Girardi.
Naviglia emphasized the scope of the operation, calling it a “large-scale, international” scheme, and confirmed the Springdale victim was not the only one targeted.
While the FBI has yet to release a statement due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, Naviglia encouraged residents to report any suspicious financial activity and remain alert to new fraud tactics — particularly those involving impersonation or tech-based manipulation.
PNC Bank declined to comment directly on the case but reiterated its commitment to fraud prevention and advised customers to be cautious of social engineering scams.
