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TROUTMAN, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Georgia man has been arrested after a scheme to take money from the elderly by posing as an FBI agent, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.
On Tuesday, January 30, deputies say they were alerted about a man claiming to be with the FBI who was traveling to a home on Hazel Lane in Troutman.
According to authorities, the suspect would contact elderly people, saying that their bank accounts had been compromised and that they needed to withdraw all the money to turn it over to the FBI. Then the suspect would show up at the victims’ homes, posing as an FBI agent there to collect the cash.
Officials say the homeowner in Troutman told law enforcement that the suspect would be arriving at her home soon and deputies set up surveillance around the home.
The suspect arrived at the home and spoke with the woman at the door, deputies say. The man was then arrested and identified as 62-year-old Bin Zhu of Sandy Springs, Georgia.
According to authorities, Zhu admitted that he was there to pick up money and had narcotics in his vehicle. In total, $3,890 in cash as well as several vials of cocaine and ecstasy were seized from the vehicle.
Zhu was arrested and is being held without Iredell County Detention Center after appearing before a magistrate.
“The victim did the right thing by calling law enforcement when she felt that something was not right, said Sheriff Campbell. We encourage anyone that has an uneasy feeling to always reach out, we are here for you! You no longer have to pick up the phone and make a call to submit tips, you can effortlessly do this on the Iredell Sheriff App in seconds”.
