Elderly Targeted: 8 Charged in $10M ‘Tech Support’ Scam

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – A brazen scheme preying on the vulnerability of elderly Americans has been dismantled with the indictment of eight Chinese nationals, accused of orchestrating a massive wire fraud operation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the federal grand jury indictment today, revealing a sophisticated scam that allegedly bilked over 50 victims across 19 states out of more than $10,000,000.

Those indicted include: Yankun Jiang, 24, of State College, PA; Hanlin Yang, 24, of State College; Chenhao Chen, 25, of California; Xiaoqing Tu, 24, of California; Dongjie Lu, 35, of California; Lei Bao, 22, of New York; Kuo Zhang, 31, of New Jersey; and Jiacheng Zhang, 25, of Florida. All eight defendants initially entered the U.S. on student visas, allegedly using that status as cover for their criminal enterprise.

According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the conspiracy unfolded between August 2023 and February 22, 2024. The defendants allegedly deployed a wide-scale computer “pop-up” scam, convincing victims their computers or bank accounts were compromised. The scam escalated when members of the group reportedly traveled to victims’ homes, posing as federal law enforcement officers – a particularly egregious act of deception – to collect large sums of cash under false pretenses of protecting the victims’ assets.

“These indictments highlight the relentless efforts of Homeland Security Investigations to safeguard our elderly population from complex fraud operations,” stated Special Agent in Charge Edward V. Owens of HSI Philadelphia. “Schemes like these cause significant emotional and financial harm to elderly victims across the country. HSI, in partnership with the FBI, remains steadfast in our commitment to securing justice for the victims and ensuring that those responsible are held fully accountable.” The scale of the fraud underscores a disturbing trend of targeting vulnerable seniors with increasingly elaborate schemes.

The FBI echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the audacity of the defendants’ impersonation of federal officers. “As outlined in the indictment, this criminal enterprise not only exploited elderly victims but did so by impersonating federal law enforcement—an egregious abuse of trust,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “We urge older Americans and their families to remain alert to these kinds of scams. The FBI will never ask for money or payment of any kind.”

The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuting the case. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. It’s crucial to remember that indictments are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, providing updates on this disturbing example of elder fraud.

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