They have a hoop plan.
Young scammers trick well-meaning New Yorkers into hijacking their cell phones and transferring thousands of dollars to themselves in what New York City police say is now a citywide crime pattern. It is considered.
May's fullback. DCPI
According to the NYPD, in 2024, criminals stole more than $76,500 in 39 incidents in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
These scammers approach people and ask for money for supposedly struggling basketball teams.
One person takes over the victim's mobile phone under the pretext of providing personal information. Thousands of dollars are then transferred through apps like Zelle and Venmo while another person distracts the victim with a conversation.
None of the victims were over the age of 36, and most were in their 20s.
Good Samaritan locations in vibrant neighborhoods such as South Street Seaport, Midtown East, Union Square, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Park Slope, Tribeca, Wall Street, and Madison Square. Would-be people have been cleverly deceived by scammers. Park and Brooklyn Heights.
Westside in May. DCPI
The four people, all under the age of 21, were charged with fourth-degree grand larceny.
Former Miss New York USA Brianna Sciaka was one such person.
After undergoing dental surgery, she was sitting in Madison Square Park listening to a podcast when two teenage boys came up and demanded money for a South Bronx basketball team.
“I agreed to give them some money, but I didn't have the cash, so they accepted Venmo and Zelle,” the Long Island native told the Post in May. Ta.
Then one boy grabbed her cell phone and the other boy started telling her about the basketball team.
Jakeem Scott, 21, and Aviana Clark, 19, were each arrested twice for wire fraud in 2024, once for the same incident.
Suspects Jaheem Scott, 21, and Timir Black, 19, were each arrested once on separate charges.
All four are from Jersey City, New Jersey.
A 15-year-old boy was also arrested in two separate incidents.
The New York City Police Department advises New Yorkers to never give their cell phones to strangers and to be wary of anyone requesting wire transfers for sports teams, school activities, or nonprofit organizations.
Former Miss New York USA Brianna Sciaka was the victim of a scam earlier this year.
After undergoing dental surgery, she was sitting in Madison Square Park listening to a podcast when two teenage boys came up and demanded money for a South Bronx basketball team.
“I agreed to give them some money, but I didn't have the cash, so they accepted Venmo and Zelle,” the Long Island native told the Post in May. Ta.
Then one boy grabbed her cell phone and the other boy started telling her about the basketball team.
Realizing that the boy was talking too long, she snatched his phone back and the children ran away.
“When I looked at my Zelle account, they had transferred $2,000 to themselves,” she said.
No one was arrested or charged in the Siaka case.
