Detectives say a slick phone scam cost a 65-year-old Center Moriches woman tens of thousands of dollars, and it ended with a Bronx man in cuffs on Tuesday.
According to Suffolk County police, the caller pretended to be a Chase Bank representative and leaned on the woman to move her money fast. By the time the dust settled, investigators said there were withdrawals totaling $28,000. They also said they managed to claw back $16,000 that had not yet been taken out.
How investigators say the scam worked
According to News12, Suffolk County detectives identified the caller as Servando Ruiz Cuenca, 45. He allegedly phoned the victim on Sept. 30, claimed her Chase account had been compromised, and told her she needed to transfer $44,000 to another account to protect it.
A short time later, two withdrawals at Chase branches in New Jersey added up to $28,000, according to the report. The woman noticed the activity and contacted authorities, and detectives with the Financial Crimes Unit were able to intercept $16,000 before it could be withdrawn.
Arrest and charges
LongIsland.com reports that investigators, working with the NYPD’s Warrants Squad, arrested Ruiz Cuenca at his Bronx home early Tuesday morning. He was charged with grand larceny in the third degree and held overnight ahead of his scheduled arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip.
The investigation is still active, and detectives are asking anyone with information to contact them.
Police warnings and resources
Suffolk County officials have repeatedly warned that impostor bank calls and so-called "grandparent" scams rely on fake urgency. The idea is to panic victims into quickly transferring money or handing over account details, according to county guidance.
The county’s "Phone Scam: What You Should Know" factsheet urges people to double-check any unexpected request by hanging up and calling family members or the bank directly. It also lists resources such as the National Elder Fraud Hotline and the Federal Trade Commission’s online reporting portal. Officials ask potential victims or witnesses to reach the Suffolk County Police Financial Crimes Unit at 631-852-6821 for help and to report similar crimes.
Legal implications
The grand larceny in the third degree charge filed against Ruiz Cuenca is a class D felony under New York law, according to the state penal code. As a felony charge, it will proceed through the criminal courts and could bring significant penalties if he is convicted.
Ruiz Cuenca was due to be arraigned Wednesday in Central Islip, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Anyone who believes they may have been targeted in a similar phone scam is urged to contact Suffolk County’s Financial Crimes Unit for assistance.
