In a series of events pulling at the frayed threads of trust, a Canadian man has found himself on the cusp of the legal system, ensnared by charges of scamming an elderly resident of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. According to WVLT, Yin Yiin Cheng, 31, from Burnaby, British Columbia, faces allegations of fraud, theft, and financial exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable adult.
An investigation by the Gatlinburg Police Department (GPD) swung into action on August 25 upon receiving reports of possible internet fraud. The unnamed victim was enticed in early July through Facebook to transfer a significant sum of money under the guise of a legitimate investment, as per WVLT.
On July 21, the victim was advised to further invest by handing over $200,000 in cash to individuals introducing themselves as members of the investment firm. Gatlinburg Police divulged that after this cash infusion, the victim's investment was alleged to have ballooned to $1.3 million, only for him to face a request for an additional $280,000 in taxes when attempting to withdraw funds.
Underlining this point, Cheng's arrest on August 27 was preceded by a swiftly organized response that involved the detective work of GPD and the collaboration with Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and the Narcotics Organized & Violent Crimes Apprehension, as per WATE. Cheng’s vehicle and its contents were seized as evidence, pending the issuance of search warrants.
