Troy Pair Scammed Macomb Seniors For Gift Cards: Police

MACOMB TOWNSHIP, MI – A man and woman from Troy have been charged in an alleged scam that involved getting Macomb County seniors to buy and give them gift cards, police reported Monday. The pair, Qingyu Wei, 27, and Xinfeng Zhu, each have been charged with conducting a criminal enterprise and false pretenses, both felonies, according to a statement from the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.

The pair told victims, who were between 66- and 80-years-old, that a family member or a friend was involved in an accident, in jail, and needed bail money, according to a police report. The victims were instructed to buy gift cards from Target to pay the bail. The victims would then call Wei or Zhu, and provide them the gift card numbers and pin numbers. The pair would go into a Target store and purchase eBay and Steam gift cards with these Target gift cards.

Wei and Zhu bought $10,600 in Target gift cards from Jan. 29 to Feb. 24, according to police. The two used this money to buy high-end merchandise and sell it via the internet to customers overseas, police reported.

Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said phone scams against seniors are very common, and suggested that they be prepared for them, saying that "if someone requests you to make payment with gift cards it is most likely a scam."

"The best way to not become a victim is to learn how to protect yourself from them," Wickersham said. "Never give out personal information over the phone such as credit card information or your social security
number. If you believe the caller is giving you accurate information, take the time to verify it or ask someone you trust to help you."

The arrest of Wei and Zhu stemmed from a tip out of New York involving criminal activity in Macomb County, police said. Detectives went to their home last Monday, March 12. During a search, detectives seized electronics, vehicles, U.S. currency and a variety of high end merchandise.

The pair was arraigned on Thursday, March 15, in Shelby Township, on the criminal charges. Bail was set at $250,000. Both remain in the Macomb County Jail.

Photos courtesy of the Macomb County Sheriff's Office