Kings Park West Man Conned Out Of $40K By NY Man: Police

FAIRFAX, VA — A New York man has been charged after Fairfax County police say he defrauded a Kings Park West man out of $40,000.

The victim reported on Sept. 13 that he was defrauded out of $40,000 by an unknown man, according to the incident report. The suspect contacted the victim, claiming to be a representative of his bank, and convinced him to withdraw money on two separate occasions and hand it over in person.

Detectives identified 37-year-old Kun Ye of New York as a suspect in the case, according to the report. Working with FCPD's Fugitive and Apprehension Unit, investigators tracked Ye to the 3900 block of Fair Ridge Drive in Fair Oaks and placed him under arrested him on Oct. 9.

After being taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, Ye was charged with felony obtaining money by false pretenses and held without bond, according to police.

Ye was arraigned on Oct. 9 in Fairfax County General District Court and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for 2 p.m. on Dec. 29, according to court documents. Ye remains in custody following an Oct. 17 bond hearing.

The obtaining money by false pretenses is a Class 4 felony, under the Code of Virginia. If Ye is found guilty, he faces a possible sentence of two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000, under Virginia law.

Police shared these tips on how county residents can avoid being scammed:

• Never give personal information over the phone. Banks will never call asking for your PIN, password, or full account numbers.
• Verify the caller. If someone claims to be from your bank, hang up and call the official number listed on your bank’s website or statement.
• Don’t rush. Scammers often try to create urgency or pressure you into acting immediately. Take your time and think carefully before taking any action.
• Avoid wiring or transferring money to strangers. Legitimate banks will never ask you to send money to resolve an issue or “recover” lost funds.
• Never meet with strangers to hand over money. If someone instructs you to meet in person and give money, it’s almost always a scam.
• Look for red flags. Be cautious of threatening language, unsolicited calls, or requests for secrecy, which are classic scam tactics.

If you have information regarding this incident or believe you’ve been a victim, please call our Financial Crimes Unit at 703-246-3533. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.