WAPAKONETA, Ohio (WLIO) – Two Chinese nationals were arrested after allegedly attempting to scam a large sum of money from an elderly Auglaize County resident.
Xinxing Chen, 32, of Flushing, New York, and Yaolong Zhou, 37, of Chicago, are being held in the Auglaize County Jail on charges of complicity to theft by deception.
Auglaize County deputies took a report on Monday from a resident who had been scammed out of a significant amount of money. Authorities say the scammers told the victim, whose name was not released, that their bank was compromised and "his money was no longer safe."
The victim withdrew a large sum of money from the bank and gave it to the suspects in exchange for a cashier’s check. Investigators say the suspects then convinced the victim to withdraw another large amount of cash, and they were planning to return on Tuesday to pick it up.
Family members became suspicious and contacted the Sheriff’s Office, which brought in the FBI Lima Office, the Grand Lake Task Force, the Safe Streets Task Force, and the victim's bank, whose name was not released. When the suspects arrived to collect the additional money, they were arrested.
Authorities confirmed that Chen and Zhou are in the United States on work visas.Â
June 18, 2025, Press Release from the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office:
The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office took a report on June 16th, from a County resident advising he was scammed out of a large sum of money. The victim advised he was contacted by telephone and text messages advising him that his bank was compromised and that his money was no longer safe at the bank. The suspects talked the victim into going to the bank and withdrawing a large portion of cash. Once the victim had the cash, it was arranged that someone would come by to pick it up and would later give him a cashier's check for the same amount. A suspect later came to the victim's house and took control of the cash. While this was going on, the suspects talked to the victim about other investments and was trying to arrange for another withdraw, and pick up for further cash.
At this point, family members got involved and contacted the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office. An investigation was started and communication with the suspects was still on going. The Grand Lake Task Force, F.B.I. Lima Office and Safe Streets Task Force were requested to assist in arranging another pick up for a larger amount of cash.
The 2nd pickup was set for June 17th and 2 male subjects did arrive and were immediately arrested. A large amount of cash was located on the suspects. Also during the investigation, it was reported that both suspects are in the United States on work visas from the Peoples Republic of China. Both subjects were transported to the Auglaize County Corrections Center, identified and charged with:
Xinxing Chen, 32 yoa
Ohio Revised Code 2913.02
Flushing, New York
Complicity/Theft by Deception Felony 3rd Degree
Yaolong Zhou, 37 yoa
Chicago, Illinois
Ohio Revised Code 2913.02
Complicity/Theft by Deception Felony 3rd Degree
Assisting in the investigation was the Grand Lake Task Force, F.B.I Lima Office, Ben Elder; Auglaize County Prosecutors Office and the Safe Streets Task Force. The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office would like to give a Thank You to the Bank involved in this. Without their cooperation, the operation would not have been able to have the outcome it did. Due to the investigation still pending, the bank will not be named at this time, but their assistance in this was invaluable.
With this investigation, as in numerous others, Auglaize County residents were overwhelmingly willing to accommodate the needs of the Law Enforcement Units on scene and a thank you goes to all Auglaize County residents that helped out.
Sheriff Vorhees wants to remind residents that if you are contacted by someone to turn money over to them for no reason, this is more than likely a scam. Please contact local law enforcement immediately. Do not become a victim of these senseless crimes.
