Police are investigating a series of scams targeting elderly Queens residents, with four victims losing more than $90,000 combined after being tricked into handing over cash.
By Dan Gesslein
Queens Voice
October 23, 2026
QUEENS, NY — The NYPD is searching for a man suspected of scamming elderly Queens residents out of more than $90,000 in a series of phone and email scams reported over the summer.
Investigators said the suspect used phone and email scams targeting senior citizens in Queens in at least four separate incidents. The victims, ranging in age from 72 to 90, were allegedly deceived into withdrawing large sums of cash from their banks and handing the money directly to the suspect.
The four reported incidents occurred between June 2 and September 4, resulting in combined losses exceeding $90,000.
Queens Woman Loses $20,000 in Bank Impersonation Scam
The first incident occurred on June 2 at around 3 p.m., when an 80-year-old woman received an email claiming she had been the victim of a scam. The message provided a phone number for her to call to resolve the issue.
According to police, the woman called the number and spoke with a man who claimed to work with her bank. The suspect allegedly convinced her to withdraw $20,000 in cash.
The victim then met the man near 35th Avenue and 21st Street in Queens and handed over the money. The suspect fled with the cash.
Queens Boulevard Cash Scam Costs Senior $20,000
On August 31, a 74-year-old man received a phone call from the suspected scammer. Investigators said the suspect used deception to convince the victim to withdraw $20,000 from his bank.
The man was directed to meet the suspect near Queens Boulevard and 59th Street. After the victim handed over the cash, the suspect ran off.
Police have not released further details about what the caller told the victim.
Two More Queens Seniors Lose Tens of Thousands of Dollars
The suspected scammer allegedly struck again just two days later.
On September 2, a 90-year-old man was contacted by phone and conned into handing over $21,000 in cash withdrawn from his bank.
On September 4, a 72-year-old woman became the fourth reported victim. Police said she was tricked into handing over $30,000.
Together, the four incidents resulted in more than $90,000 stolen from elderly Queens residents through alleged phone and email scams.
NYPD Releases Surveillance Video of Queens Scam Suspect
The NYPD has released grainy surveillance video showing the suspect as investigators continue working to identify and locate him.
Police are asking anyone with information about the Queens senior citizen scam investigation to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Spanish-speaking callers can reach 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Tips can also be submitted online at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or through the NYPD's official X account, @NYPDTips.
All calls are confidential.
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