<\/p>\n
KINGSTON \u2014 Two men from New York City were arraigned Tuesday on allegations they conspired to scam a Kingston man out of a large sum of cash.<\/p>\n
Jinong Zihang, 23, of Staten Island, and Jianmin Bian, 37, of Brooklyn, were arrested in a joint investigation by Kingston police and the Pennsylvania State Police at Wilkes-Barre after they arrived at a location believing they were picking up $30,000 as part of a PayPal scam, according to court records.<\/p>\n
After their arrest on Monday, Zihang and Bian claimed they did not know each other, court records say.<\/p>\n
The victim reported receiving an email on March 2 stating that his PayPal account had been unauthorizedly accessed and used to purchase an Apple iPhone valued at $1,199.99. The email advised the victim to call to cancel the order.<\/p>\n
After the victim called the phone number listed in the email, the victim provided personal financial information that included his investment account and permitted the unknown person remote access to his computer under the belief that he would receive a PayPal refund.<\/p>\n
Court records say the victim watched on his computer while being remotely accessed, a refund amount of $80,000 was made, but he was immediately told the amount was an error. To repay the $80,000 refund, the victim was advised to deposit cash into a Bitcoin machine during March, and to surrender a total of $30,500 to an unknown male in the area of Pierce Street and Third Avenue, Kingston. The victim was also told to mail $7,800 in a box to an address in Texas, court records say.<\/p>\n
Police in court records say text messages sent to the victim included instructions to purchase $30,000 in gold bars and eight $250 Apple gift cards. The victim was also advised on March 30 that he owed another $30,000, court records allege.<\/p>\n
Court records say arrangements were made to turn over the gold bars and cash to a man in the area of Pierce Street and Third Avenue when Zihang and Bian were arrested.<\/p>\n
After being given their Miranda warnings, Zihang admitted he was paid by an unknown person $800 to pick up cash from the victim on Monday, and was the person who previously picked up cash from the victim in March, court records say.<\/p>\n
Bian told police, court records say, he was given $300 to drive Zihang to Kingston but denied knowing Zihang.<\/p>\n
Zihang and Bian were arraigned by District Judge David Barilla of Forty Fort on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit theft, criminal use of communication facility, and theft.<\/p>\n
Zihang and Bian were jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $500,000 bail, each.<\/p>\n
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