A fake Apple Account text led to an alleged cash pickup at an elderly Massachusetts man’s home before police set up a sting operation and arrested two men.
Westfield Police said the victim received a text message on Thursday, July 2, claiming his Apple Account had been charged for a new iPhone. The message included a phone number for him to call.
When the victim called the number, police said a person posing as a bank investigator told him his account had been compromised. The next day, after another request for money, the victim contacted police.
Police Say the Victim Was Told to Withdraw Cash
According to Westfield Police, the victim withdrew a large amount of money after speaking with the person claiming to be a bank investigator.
Police said a man later arrived at the victim’s home, collected a bag of cash, and left. The department described the pickup as part of a scam that began with the false Apple Account charge alert.
The case escalated when the victim was contacted again on Friday and asked for more money. Instead of making another withdrawal, he reported the situation to Westfield Police.
A Second Money Request Led to a Sting Operation
Westfield Police worked with Westfield State University Police to arrange a sting after the victim reported the second demand.
Police said the operation led officers to Xiaoming Chen and Weilun Wu, both of Brooklyn, New York. Both men were taken into custody in connection with the alleged scheme.
Investigators said the case remains active and that they believe other people may have been involved.
Two Brooklyn Men Face Charges
Chen was charged with larceny over $1,200 by false pretense, attempt to commit a crime, conspiracy, and possession of cocaine, according to police.
Wu was charged with attempt to commit a crime and conspiracy. The charges are allegations. The public reports did not say whether either man had entered a plea.
The FBI reported that people age 60 and older filed more than 201,000 fraud complaints in 2025, with reported losses totaling more than $7.7 billion.
The Phone Number in the Alert Was the Trap
Apple warns users to avoid suspicious messages and says people should not click links or call phone numbers from unexpected messages claiming to be from Apple. Instead, users should go directly to official Apple support channels or check account activity through their own device or account settings.
A real bank investigator, Apple representative, government agency, or law enforcement officer will not tell a customer to withdraw cash, keep the matter secret, or hand money to a courier at home. Anyone who receives a message about a suspicious Apple purchase should avoid calling the number in the text, check the Apple Account directly through official channels, and contact the bank or card issuer using the number on the card or statement.
Suspected phishing, cash courier scams, or bank impersonation fraud can be reported to local police, the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. Suspicious messages claiming to be from Apple can also be reported through Apple’s phishing-reporting instructions.