Auburn, Massachusetts, became the stage for what might have sounded like a scene from a crime drama, but the threat was very real for a local couple faced with a $20,000 scam. The Auburn MA Police Department took to social media to narrate the events that unfolded on Thursday, July 17. According to the post, it all began when the couple tried to clear their mortgage balance and mistakenly contacted a scammer, masquerading as their financial institution.
The scam unfolded when a male scammer, pretending to be from the couple's bank, instructed them to withdraw a staggering sum of $20,000 and await an "undercover federal agent" who would collect the cash in person. However, realizing the malevolent intent behind these directions, the couple contacted the police just as a woman, later identified as Andy Ng from Vancouver, British Columbia, approached their home under the guise of an "undercover FDIC agent". Auburn police arrived on time and apprehended Ms. Ng as she was walking away from what could have been her latest victims' address.
In the aftermath of the quick response, the police found and seized a vehicle which they believed was connected to Ms. Ng. A search of the vehicle, authorized by a warrant, uncovered around $50,000, linking the cash to at least one more victim of similar scams. The police department's post highlighted their ongoing efforts to return this recovered money to the rightful owner. Andy Ng was arraigned in Worcester District Court following her arrest for attempted larceny under Massachusetts General Law c266§30 and is held on a $5,000 bail.
The Auburn MA Police Department utilized this incident as a cautionary tale, urging the public to educate their loved ones about the pervasive threat of online scams. Disseminating their warning further, they reminded readers that "Police Officers or Federal Agents will NEVER come to your home to collect cash for any reason!" in a clear bid to prevent future such incidents in the community.
