McKinney Man Arrested in $44,000 Elderly Scam Sting

A North Texas man has now been arrested in an undercover sting where he allegedly attempted to defraud an elderly victim of $44,000. A recent undercover operation in Sulphur Springs led to the arrest of a McKinney man accused of targeting an elderly victim.

How the Elderly Scam Worked

According to the Sulphur Springs Police Department, officials received a report stating that scammers had targeted an elderly individual, claiming to represent the Federal Trade Commission.

The scammers were allegedly trying to convince the victim that her bank account was used to purchase illegal material and instructed her to withdraw a large amount of cash. The victim was told that an agent would stop by her home to pick up the large amount of money to resolve the issue.

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Police Launch an Undercover Sting

That's when law enforcement launched an undercover operation at the victim's home. After the victim spoke with officials, investigators put the undercover operation into action.

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Suspect Arrested After Arriving at the Home

During the operation, a suspect arrived at the victim's home in hopes of collecting the $44,000 in cash. The suspect was identified as Hung-Chi Chen of McKinney and was stopped and taken into custody shortly after leaving the home.

Chen was then booked into the Hopkins County Jail and charged with theft from an elderly individual.

Law enforcement all over Texas has been dealing with numerous reports of scams in recent years. Authorities encourage everyone to talk with elderly family members, friends and neighbors about common scams targeting older adults. If you ever feel unsure about someone or something that could be a potential scam, contact law enforcement immediately.