Massachusetts man admits to conspiracy defrauding Rhode Island senior

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) —  United States Attorney Zachary Cunha said that Worcester man admitted to participating in a fraud scheme that intended to defraud a Portsmouth senior of $7,500.

29 -year-old Fangzhou Qian pled guilty to charges of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Cunha said that Qian was a member of a conspiracy that contacted victims via telephone posing as a representative of their bank and told them that their bank account had been compromised.

“Victims were instructed to withdraw large amounts of money from their bank account in order to protect their assets, and to provide the funds in cash to a member of the conspiracy who, posing as a courier, would soon arrive at their residence,” Cunha said.

In May Qian contacted a 73-year-old Portsmouth resident and falsely informed him that his bank account had been compromised.

The senior was instructed to withdraw money and give it to a courier, identified as Qian.

The resident withdrew the money but informed law enforcement of the call, who intercepted Qian before he could get it.

“Qian admitted to purchasing 170 Apple gift cards from various stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire during the same timeframe during which members of the conspiracy, including Qian, were attempting to defraud the Portsmouth resident,” Cunha said.

Qian is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 17, 2024.