An 84-year-old woman in Manorhaven, New York, was allegedly targeted in a cruel elderly scam — an impersonation scam in which callers posed as Citibank's fraud department and the FBI. She lost $30,000 — then helped detectives arrest the man accused of coming back for more.
A Fake Bank Alert and a Demand for Cash
On September 13, 2026, the woman reportedly saw what appeared to be a security alert on her computer from Citibank's fraud department. She called the number shown and was allegedly told to withdraw $30,000 in cash — and that an FBI agent would meet her to collect it.
$30,000 Handed to a Stranger
She withdrew the cash and handed $30,000 to an unknown man who met with her, according to Nassau County police detectives. She later realized she had been scammed and contacted police.
The Suspect Returns — and Police Are Waiting
On September 17, she was contacted again and asked for another $18,000. This time she alerted detectives, who were in place when Han Bing Wu, 31, of Flushing allegedly arrived in Manorhaven to collect the money. He was arrested without incident.
A Different Man — and an Alleged Drug Find
Police emphasized that Wu was NOT the same man who collected the original $30,000. Wu was also allegedly found in possession of a substance police believe was ketamine.
Charges and the Ongoing Investigation
Wu was charged with attempted grand larceny in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. He was scheduled for arraignment on September 18 at First District Court in Hempstead. The investigation remains ongoing, and Nassau County detectives ask anyone who believes they may have been victimized to contact the Sixth Squad at 516-573-6653.
Charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Scam-Awareness Takeaways
Consider this a scam alert as of October 2026: beware popups claiming to be your bank, anyone telling you to withdraw cash for an "agent," and any supposed official who wants to collect money in person. No real bank or the FBI will ever collect cash from you in person.
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