Centereach resident loses nearly $20,000 in tech-support scam, suspect arrested
A Centereach man handed over $19,950 after a fake tech-support refund scam, then photographed the suspect and his car, helping detectives make an arrest.
Suffolk County Police arrested Ande Jiang, 27, of Highland Mills, on June 23 after a Centereach man lost $19,950 in cash in a tech-support scam. He was extradited from Connecticut, where he was already being held on another case.
The scam started in 2024 when the Centereach resident reached a tech-support representative after searching the web for help. Once the caller gained remote access to the computer, he told the victim a $50 refund had been issued. The call then escalated into an overpayment scam: the scammer claimed he had accidentally deposited $20,000 instead of $20 and told the victim to return the difference.
The victim met a man in a Centereach parking lot and handed over $19,950 in cash. The victim photographed both the man and his vehicle during the exchange, and detectives with the Suffolk Police Financial Crimes Unit used those images to identify Jiang. He was charged with third-degree grand larceny and petit larceny and was being held overnight at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Yaphank before arraignment in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead.
Tech-support scammers impersonate real support companies, claim there is a problem with a computer, and use that fear to win remote access or personal and financial information. Some of these schemes pivot into fake refund or overpayment claims and pressure victims to move money from bank, investment or retirement accounts.
FTC data show consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% jump from the year before. FBI complaint data show victims over 60 topped 201,000 in 2025, with reported losses of more than $7.7 billion. Warning signs include an unsolicited support call, remote access requests, sudden refund claims and any demand to hand over cash or return money in person.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted in this case can contact the Suffolk Police Financial Crimes Unit at 631-852-6821.
This article was produced by Prism’s automated news system from verified source data, official records, and press releases, then run through automated quality and moderation checks before publishing. The system is built and supervised by the people who set the standards it runs under. Read our full AI policy.
Did this article answer your question?
