Nassau police warn of Apple Pay text scam after woman lost $60,000
NASSAU COUNTY (WABC) -- A 76-year-old Long Island woman lost $60,000 in a scam that began with a text message claiming there was suspicious activity involving her Apple Pay account, according to Nassau County police.
Police said the scam started when the woman received a text message claiming there had been account activity and that an extra $30,000 had been deposited into her account. The message instructed her to call a phone number.
According to investigators, the person she reached claimed to be from a bank and told her to withdraw $30,000 and bring it to a street corner in Williston Park.
"Said we had some account activity on your account. We put an extra 30,000 dollars in there. We need to get that money back." Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said.
Police said the woman followed the instructions, withdrew $30,000 from her bank and handed it over. Investigators said the scammers then repeated the scheme.
"She went to the bank. Removed 30,000. Gave them that money. Since they were successful, that success breeds confidence, they came back and they did it again," Ryder said.
The woman ultimately lost $60,000, money police said she has been unable to recover.
Authorities are investigating and said they have developed some leads as they work to identify a man seen in surveillance video collecting $30,000 from the woman.
Police also warned that scammers frequently target older adults and urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited calls and messages.
"But our advice is nobody's going to do that. Nobody's going to call you. So call us. Call the cops," Ryder said.
Ryder also encouraged families to protect personal information and be mindful of what they share publicly online.
"Social media is what kills us out there. Everybody wants to talk about the great birthday party that he threw for grandma. She turned 80 today. Let's have a birthday party. And they post these pictures. That's where they get educated, these bad guys, they got nothing to do all day long but figure out a way to screw the system," Ryder said.
The scam occurred about three weeks before police released details of the case. Authorities said they are protecting the woman's identity and that she was mortified when she realized she had been deceived.
Police said embarrassment can sometimes prevent victims from reporting crimes, but they urged anyone who falls victim to a similar scam to contact law enforcement. Investigators said reporting such incidents can help police identify and stop those responsible.
