Thursday, October 1, 2026
A wave of electronic fraud and identity theft reported to the Lynbrook Police Department this year reflects a broader surge in increasingly sophisticated scams across Long Island, many of them targeting older residents through fear, urgency and impersonation.
According to police reports obtained by the Herald, victims were pressured into sending money through Zelle transfers, wire payments and prepaid gift cards after suspects posed as representatives of the IRS, FBI, major banks, telecommunications companies and even employers. Losses ranged from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands.
One Lynbrook resident discovered a Verizon account had been opened fraudulently in his name and sent to collections for $311, despite never having service with the company. In another case, a local ice cream shop employee was convinced by a caller impersonating an IRS agent to purchase Green Dot gift cards, losing more than $1,000 in personal funds in addition to store money. Names were redacted in the Freedom of Information request.
The most severe incident involved a victim who withdrew $30,000 from a Citibank loan after a suspect claiming to be affiliated with the FBI said her account had been compromised. The cash was later retrieved from her home by an unknown individual, and the victim continued to receive contact from the suspect, according to police reports.
Lynbrook Police Chief Brian Paladino said the few cases that do result in arrests often hinge on timing. He said investigations are most effective when scammers require in-person contact, such as sending a courier or arranging a cash pickup, giving detectives a chance to intervene. If police are alerted while the scheme is still unfolding, he said, investigators can coordinate surveillance or sting operations to identify and apprehend suspects — a tactic that has led to arrests in past cases. Once money is transferred electronically or the trail goes cold, Paladino said, options narrow quickly, underscoring the importance of immediate reporting.
Law enforcement has occasionally been able to intervene. In a high-profile East Rockaway case, a 74-year-old woman lost $117,000 after responding to a fake computer alert. On Oct. 6, Nassau County police arrested one suspect in that scheme, followed days later by a second arrest tied to the East Rockaway case and a similar fraud reported Aug. 4 in Rockville Centre.
Eric J. Einhart, an elder law attorney and president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, said the damage of fraud is often invisible until it devastates families.
“The experience with the person in East Rockaway is not unique,” Einhart said. “That happens all the time.”
Einhart said shame and fear often keep victims silent, compounding the harm.
“But there are so many people that don't get to that point,” he said. “Whether it's because the scammers are just so good, or they're touching an emotional heart string… it’s a very pervasive problem.”
Paladino said scams often spike around tax season and the holidays.
As the holiday season continues, PSEG Long Island has warned of a rise in scammers threatening power shutoffs unless immediate payment is made. The company says it never demands payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency or third-party apps.
“It may be an advanced digital scam, an in-person scammer or a telephone call,” said Lou DeBrino, PSEG Long Island’s vice president of customer operations. “But most scammers try to blindside you with an urgent problem in the hopes that you panic and miss all the clues that they’re not who they appear to be.”
Monica Martinez, executive director of Utilities United Against Scams, said the national theme — “Slow Down, Verify, Stop the Scam” — offers a simple but effective tool to help customers avoid becoming victims.
Nationally, Americans reported more than $3.4 billion in losses to imposter scams in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with older adults suffering the highest losses. In New York, victims aged 60 and over reported losing more than $145 million last year to online crime, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. State consumer protection data shows elder-targeted scams on Long Island have risen 18 percent since 2022.
In East Rockaway, residents describe scam attempts that appear indistinguishable from legitimate calls. Stacy Lynn said spoofed calls display her bank’s name on caller ID.
“But they ask for my husband's last name,” Lynn said. “I never legally changed mine, so I know it’s a scam.”
Others report constant digital pressure. Jillian O’Connor of Lynbrook said scam texts arrive daily.
“I could see how people could fall for it,” she said. “I get text reminders for other bill payments, why not this?”
Some residents have turned to technology as a shield. Muhammad Rehman of Lynbrook said a new phone feature eliminated the problem entirely.
“I used to get scam calls every 1–2 hours,” Rehman said. “But they’ve gone down to zero since then.”
With more than 18 percent of Nassau County residents now over 65, authorities and advocates say the threat is only growing.
“It's hard to prevent other than just educating the seniors about it,” Paladino said. “Just beware.”
Residents are urged to report suspected fraud immediately to police and financial institutions. Nassau County Police’s Fraud and Forgery Section can be reached at 516-573-2815.
More information on recognizing and reporting scams is available at Consumer.FTC.gov.
-Additional reporting by Jordan Vallone
