NYPD seeks con artist who stole over $90,000 from four Queens seniors

The New York Police Department is searching for a young man who defrauded at least four senior citizens in Queens of more than $90,000 in life savings over the last five months. Officers from the 108th, 112th, and 114th Precincts are investigating a series of grand larcenies in which the suspect used telephone and email scams to convince victims to withdraw large sums of cash.

The first documented incident occurred on June 2. An 80-year-old woman in Astoria received an email claiming she was the victim of a scam. She called the number provided and spoke with the suspect, who persuaded her to withdraw $20,000. The two met near 35th Avenue and 21st Street around 3 p.m. The woman handed over the cash, and the suspect fled in an unknown direction.

On August 31, a 74-year-old man in Woodside received a similar phone call. The suspect convinced him to withdraw $20,000. They met near the Big Six Towers on Queens Boulevard near 59th Street. After the exchange, the suspect ran eastbound on Queens Boulevard toward the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Two days later, on September 2, the suspect called a 90-year-old man in Kew Gardens. He convinced the victim to withdraw $21,000. They met near Austin Street and 78th Avenue at approximately 7 a.m. The suspect took the money and ran eastbound on Austin Street toward the Grand Central Parkway.

On September 4, a 72-year-old woman in Sunnyside received a phone call from the suspect. He persuaded her to withdraw $30,000. The two met near 43rd Avenue and 40th Street. The suspect fled on foot eastbound on Queens Boulevard toward Greenpoint Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue. None of the four victims were physically injured during the encounters.

Police released surveillance footage of the suspect from the Kew Gardens incident. He has a light complexion, shaggy brown hair, and a thin build. In the images, he is wearing an oversized white T-shirt with a black heart graphic, denim shorts, white sneakers, and a black backpack. A reward of up to $3,500 is available for information leading to his arrest and indictment.

Residents with information can call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or 888-57-PISTA for Spanish. Tips can also be submitted via the Crime Stoppers website or on X at @NYPDTips. All communications are confidential.

CompStat data shows a rise in grand larcenies in the affected precincts. Through October 18, the 108th Precinct recorded 712 cases, an increase of 10.95 percent from 642 last year. The 112th Precinct reported 475 cases, up 49.8 percent from 317 in 2025. The 114th Precinct reported 759 cases, a 1.1 percent increase from 751 the previous year.