2 charged in ‘large scam operation’ spanning four counties by Person County deputies

ROXBORO, N.C. (WNCN) — Investigators in Person County appear to have uncovered a huge scam operation, potentially targeting people across the Southeast.

The first crack in the case came last week when deputies arrested two men for scamming a Person County senior out of more than $30,000 through a PayPal scheme.

Sheriff Jason Wilborn now confirms the suspects managed to take about $140,000 in total from victims across four different North Carolina counties.

“Now, they have taken it to a different level and they’re showing up at people’s homes, someone’s grandparents’ home, and scamming these people of $50,000, if not more,” Wilborn said.

Authorities said Chinese nationals Yunlong Lin and Linghui Zheng also scammed victims in Granville County, Durham and Clayton. One person lost over $50,000.

Investigators believe there’s a hierarchy of scammers and more potential suspects.

“Also that came out of this vehicle was an Apple AirTag, so it makes us think that this is a bigger, a group of individuals that’s working these scams because we feel like they have somebody that they have to answer to,” Wilborn said.

Deputies said the pair of arrested suspects were driving a Lexus with New York plates reading ‘LVS-7198’ when they were arrested trying to scam the Person County man multiple times.

Wilborn said Flock Safety cameras helped them find out the vehicle also traveled to Tennessee and South Carolina. He said the suspects spent a lot of time in the Myrtle Beach area over the last month.

Investigators recovered a dash cam on the windshield of the Lexus that had a memory card with footage of where they went.

“Potentially hitting those neighborhoods and Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina or Tennessee, there’s no telling how much money they have scammed out of these victims across these last three states,” Wilborn said.

Investigators also said Lin and Zheng are in the United States illegally. They’re now being held on a federal detainer with more charges coming. The Department of Homeland Security is involved in the case.

Last week, Wilborn told CBS 17 the Person County victim received an email saying he had a reimbursement waiting for him. He was given a phone number to contact for the reimbursement.

The victim called the two suspects, who were able to see his computer screen and gather his login information and bank numbers. The suspects then allegedly transferred $34,600 from the victim’s savings account into his checking account, according to Wilborn.

“That’s when they [told] the victim they made a mistake,” the sheriff said.

The suspects claimed they reimbursed the victim too much money and he had to go to the bank to make a withdrawal.

“[The victim] was advised to tell the bank he was purchasing a vehicle with the money because [the withdrawal] would throw up a red flag to the financial institution of a possible scam,” Wilborn said.

The suspects then met the victim at his home to retrieve the money.

“They physically came in person,” Wilborn said. “[It] is upsetting and disturbing they did take the time to show up to the victim’s home.”

The next day, the suspects again transferred $30,000 from the victim’s savings account to his checking account, told him they made a mistake, and he had to perform the same steps again. After the victim returned to the bank to make the new withdrawal, the bank contacted the sheriff’s office.

“[The victim] went to the bank,” the sheriff said. “[It’s] just the bank caught it this time. They thought something was up.”

Deputies said after working with the bank and the victim, they waited outside the victim’s home for the suspects to arrive to collect the money.

Both were arrested on Thursday and charged with the following:

• 1 count of obtaining property by false pretense
• 2 counts of felony accessing computers
• 1 count of felony conspiracy

“It is of utmost importance that we work with our federal law enforcement partners to combat illegal criminal activity in our communities,” Wilborn said. “We are grateful for the cooperation of the financial institution and the victim in this investigation.”

The sheriff reminds the public to always ask questions if something seems suspicious.

“Verify everything,” Wilborn said. “Reach out to us, call us, and just make sure [if] this is a new scam going around.”

Roughly $17,000 was recovered, but the victim has not been reimbursed as of Friday because the money is now evidence.

According to deputies, Zheng and Lin are believed to have immigrated to the U.S. in 2023 from China. They are currently in Person County custody. The judge set both of their bonds at $250,000.

Deputies said the investigation remains ongoing.

“Our office remains committed to protecting the citizens of Person County and ensuring those who seek to exploit them are held accountable,” Wilborn said.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Person County Sheriff’s Office at 336-597-0500.