The NYPD has seen a surge in phone hijacking scams across Manhattan and Brooklyn, with 39 incidents reported in 2024 alone, totaling over $76,500 stolen. This emerging crime wave typically targets well-meaning individuals who are approached by scammers seeking donations for their fictitious basketball teams, using manipulation and distraction techniques to execute their thefts.
Victims of this scam often report similar experiences, where they were asked for money for struggling basketball teams and subsequently had their phones hijacked under the guise of providing personal information. This method reflects a newer breed of crime that mixes social engineering with technology, highlighting vulnerabilities in the digital age.
The perpetrators have managed to exploit the kindness of strangers, including high-profile victims like former Miss New York USA Briana Siaca, who fell prey to this scheme while recovering from dental surgery. The use of apps like Venmo or Zelle further complicates recovery efforts, as the transactions occur almost instantaneously, making it difficult for victims to react in time.
Despite the arrests of four individuals involved in these scams, including arrests made multiple times for the same offenses in 2024, the frequency of these crimes suggests a growing trend and indicates that more awareness and preventive measures are needed among city dwellers.
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