- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Larchmont Today
By the People, for the People
Two Arrested in $25K 'Money Mule' Elder Fraud Scheme in Larchmont
An alert neighbor contacted police when a scammer convinced the 75-year-old victim to hand cash to a 'bank representative' at her home.
Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:19pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A harsh, gritty close-up of the physical evidence from a targeted elder fraud scheme exposes the stark reality of financial exploitation.Larchmont TodayThe Larchmont Police Department arrested two men, Qin Lin and Zhonglin Luo, in connection with a targeted phone scam that tried to defraud a 75-year-old Larchmont resident of $25,000. The scammer falsely told the victim that her cellphone had been hacked and that scammers were processing a $25,000 transaction from her account, instructing her to withdraw the cash for pickup by a purported bank representative. An alert neighbor contacted police, who intervened and arrested the two suspects as the cash was being picked up.
Why it matters
Elder fraud schemes like this 'money mule' scam have become increasingly common, targeting vulnerable seniors and resulting in significant financial losses. This incident highlights the importance of community vigilance and the need for ongoing public education to prevent such crimes.
The details
On Monday around 6:30 p.m., a neighbor contacted Larchmont police with concerns that the 75-year-old victim was being manipulated by a scammer posing as a Bank of America representative. The caller falsely told the victim that her cellphone had been hacked and that scammers were processing a $25,000 transaction from her account, instructing her to withdraw the cash for pickup by a purported bank representative. Around 8:35 p.m., a white Toyota Venza arrived at the victim's home, and a man got out and received the cash from the victim. As the suspect returned to the vehicle, officers arrested both the collector and the driver without incident.
- On Monday around 6:30 p.m., a neighbor contacted Larchmont police.
- Around 8:35 p.m., a white Toyota Venza arrived at the victim's home.
The players
Qin Lin
A 37-year-old man from Staten Island who was arrested in connection with the scam.
Zhonglin Luo
A 45-year-old man from Brooklyn who was arrested in connection with the scam.
Larchmont Police Department
The local law enforcement agency that arrested the two suspects and commended the alertness of the reporting neighbor and the cooperation of the victim.
What they’re saying
“The Larchmont Police Department commended 'the alertness of the reporting neighbor and the cooperation of the victim, whose composure during a frightening experience was instrumental in bringing the suspects to justice.'”
— Larchmont Police Department
What’s next
The two suspects, Qin Lin and Zhonglin Luo, are being held pending arraignment and face charges of felony third-degree grand larceny, felony third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, and misdemeanor fifth-degree conspiracy.
The takeaway
This case highlights the growing threat of elder fraud schemes and the importance of community vigilance and public education to prevent such crimes. By working together, neighbors and law enforcement were able to stop this 'money mule' scam and protect a vulnerable senior from significant financial loss.
