A trusting elderly widow in North Carolina has been left devastated after a sophisticated scam drained her life savings.
What started as a simple attempt to manage her finances spiraled into a nightmare that stole $17,500 from her, all captured on her doorbell camera.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, had been trying to pay off medical bills following cancer treatment last year.
She never imagined a stranger would manipulate her into handing over nearly $18,000 in cash.
The Scam Begins With a Simple Phone Call
The ordeal started when the widow tried to log into her online banking account, only to discover she couldn’t access it.
Believing her bank had frozen her accounts over a suspicious PayPal transaction, she called a number saved in her contacts.
The person on the other end claimed to be from her bank and later transferred her to what she thought was the PayPal fraud department.
After a second call to a number she found online, the scam escalated.
She was instructed to pay an $82 fee—which was supposedly refundable—and to follow specific steps on her computer.
Technology Turns Against Her
As she typed in the $82 payment, her screen suddenly showed $18,000 instead.
Panic set in, but she was unaware that the caller had gained full access to her computer, moving funds from her savings into her checking account.
The scammer then instructed her to withdraw the money in cash from her local bank.
To make the situation feel legitimate, a printed letter featuring the Bank of America logo warned of tax issues and instructed her not to discuss the transaction.
The call lasted over four hours, during which the scammer repeatedly insisted she stay on the line.
The Final Act at Her Doorstep
Following the caller’s instructions, the widow withdrew $17,500 from her bank, with a small “bonus” of $500 for herself.
The bank manager questioned her about harassment, but she insisted she was acting of her own free will.
Back at home, another printed notice instructed her to return the money to PayPal.
Moments later, her doorbell camera captured the scammer, identified as Linghui Zheng, arriving to collect the cash.
Trusting the instructions she had been given, the woman handed over the money.
Realization and the Fight for Justice
It wasn’t until she called her daughters that she realized she had been scammed.
Police were contacted, and she soon learned she was one of many victims.
Zheng, along with an accomplice, is facing multiple charges across North Carolina, including obtaining property under false pretenses, computer fraud, and felony conspiracy.
Authorities estimate the duo scammed around $400,000 in total.
Investigators from the NC SBI and the Department of Homeland Security continue to track other victims and suspects.
Unfortunately, the widow has been told it’s unlikely she will recover the stolen funds.
A Warning to Others
Speaking out now, the woman hopes her story will serve as a cautionary tale.
“If just because you’re tired, don’t let your defenses down,” she advised. Her story is a stark reminder of how quickly and convincingly scammers can manipulate even the most careful individuals.