Chinese citizen charged with grand larceny after elderly couple scammed out of $20K

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A man who is a citizen of China but also resides in New York was charged after an elderly couple in Java were scammed out of $20,000 in cash in May, according to the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office.

Officials said the couple were instructed to call "Microsoft Security," withdraw money from the bank, put it in an envelope and wait for a delivery person to arrive. A man in a delivery vest arrived to take the money on May 27.

A New York State license plate registered to 43-year-old Rihui Yan was developed. On May 28, a search warrant for Yan's vehicle was obtained and $2,400, cell phones and his vehicle were allegedly seized.

Yan was charged in Malone, N.Y. for a similar scam incident involving over $40,000 in Franklin County. A search warrant at his Albany residence also turned up $3,400 in cash, documents and electronic devices, officials said.

He was arraigned on July 16 and released on his own recognizance. He was then returned to the Buffalo Detention Facility pending a later court date.