Suspect in phone scam of elderly facing charges

    A third attempt to defraud an elderly Canton Township woman was thwarted by police who arrested a man attempting to collect $25,000 from the victim.

    Police reports said that the woman received a telephone call from a man claiming to be a “senior fraud officer” at her bank investigating activity on her account. The caller used a convincing story to persuade the victim to withdraw large sums of money from her account which would then be retrieved by the caller’s co-worker. The fraud attempt took place, police said, in mid-December and the cash was picked up from the victim at her residence.
    The scam was successful, police said, twice over a four-day period. Prior to the third attempt to entice the victim to withdraw cash, the woman’s family members noticed the unusual bank activity and large withdrawals and contacted the Canton Police Department.
    Just prior to a third attempt, the victim’s family members noticed unusual bank activity and contacted police. When the suspect arrived at the Canton residence on Dec. 17, attempting to pick up the $25,000 in cash, Canton detectives were on the scene and arrested the suspect Li Biao, 30.
    Biao was arraigned on one count of fraudulent false pretenses $20,000-$50,000 a 15-year felony and one count of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, a 2-year felony.
    Bond was set at $100,0000 cash, with GPS tether by 36th District Magistrate Delphia Burton.
    “This is a tragic example of elder exploitation financial abuse, with the suspects defrauding and stealing from the victim by taking advantage of her vulnerability due to age,” Canton Police Support Services Capt. Joseph Bialy said.
    “We strongly encourage family members, friends and caregivers of the elderly to watch out for warning signs such as a sudden change in financial habits, missing funds, unexplained large withdrawals, new beneficiaries on accounts, or a new individual with excessive control over an elderly person’s finances. Please report any findings to your local police department,” Canton Police Support Services Capt. Joseph Bialy said.
    “This is a tragic example of elder exploitation financial abuse, with the suspects defrauding and stealing from the victim by taking advantage of her vulnerability due to age,” Bialy added.