Essex Police Department Arrests and Charges Alleged Scammer Who was Caught in Act

ESSEX — The Essex Police Department has arrested and charged a 35-year-old Revere man with attempting to con an Essex resident out of $15,000 as part of a well-known common computer technical support scam.

YI PENG LUO, age 35, of REVERE, was arrested Wednesday and charged with:

• Attempt to Commit a Crime (Larceny Over $1,200)

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Essex Police were contacted by a family member of a resident, who was told via internet and telephone that their computer was infected with a virus. 

The scammer claimed that to fix the situation, the resident had to pay $15,000 in cash immediately, which the resident was prepared to do. 

The  family member contacted police just in time, and Sergeant Daniel Bruce and Officer David Vangelist immediately responded to intercept an alleged courier at the resident’s home.

An on-scene investigation, which was assisted by Chief Thomas Shamshak and Detective Sgt. Robert Wheway, determined that LUO had no legitimate reason to be at the resident’s home. 

The ongoing investigation at the scene eventually led police to take LUO into custody. 

Police do not believe LUO was working alone, and an ongoing investigation is working to determine who else he may have been working with. 

“If we catch you trying to scam our residents, you will be arrested,” said Chief Shamshak. “These types of scams are increasingly common in Essex and across the Commonwealth, and I hope this arrest sends the message that we will not stand idly by and let our residents be victimized. I want to praise the rapid response of Sgt. Bruce and Officer Vangelist, who were able to detain this courier before he could leave with a resident’s money. I’d also like to thank Detective Sgt. Robert Wheway for his assistance and expertise at the scene.”

LUO is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Gloucester District Court. 

In the wake of this incident, Essex Police would like to share the following safety tips from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help residents recognize and prevent these types of scams. 

• Scammers pretend to be from an organization you know. They might use a real name, like the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Medicare, or make up a name that sounds official. Some pretend to be from a business you know, like a utility company, a tech company, or even a charity asking for donations.
• Scammers say there’s a problem or prize. They might say you’re in trouble with the government, that you owe money, that someone in your family had an emergency, or that there’s a virus on your computer. Some scammers say there’s a problem with one of your accounts and that you need to verify some information. Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery or sweepstakes but have to pay a fee to get it.
• Scammers pressure you to act immediately. They might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story. They might threaten to arrest you, sue you, take away your driver’s or business license, or deport you. They might say your computer is about to be corrupted.
• Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way. They often insist that you pay by sending money through Bitcoin, a money transfer company or by putting money on a gift card and then giving them the number on the back. Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), tell you to deposit it, and then send them money.

The FTC also recommends that if you get an email or text message from a company you do business with and you think it’s real, it’s still best not to click on any links. Instead, contact them using a website you know is trustworthy, or look up their phone number. Don’t call a number they gave you or the number from your caller ID.

Residents who believe they may have fallen victim to such a scam, or who believe they may be communicating with would-be scammers, are encouraged to immediately contact the Essex Police Department at 978-768-6628.

These are allegations. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.