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Police: Scam artist poses as Michael Jackson relative to get $20,000 from a Stamford resident
By KARA O'CONNOR Times Staff Writer
STAMFORD -- A 27-year-old man who posed as a relative of Michael Jackson in order to steal $20,000 from a Stamford woman was arrested on Tuesday afternoon, according to police.
Andrew Vann, 27, whose address is unknown, was charged with larceny in the second degree and held in lieu of a $50,000 bond after he was arrested in a sting operation at the Ferguson Library Tuesday afternoon, according to Sgt. Peter diSpagna of the Stamford Police Department's Property Crimes Unit at the Stamford Police Department.
According to diSpagna, a 34-year-old woman from Stamford called the police department on Oct. 1 to report that she had been scammed out of $20,000 cash.
The victim, who is a huge fan of the Jackson family, had first met Vann at a Jermaine Jackson book signing in New York City in September, said diSpagna. The two started talking and exchanged numbers, he said.
The victim told police that Vann had called her the day after they met and told her he would be in the area, police said. The victim invited Vann over her house for lunch, with her sister, according to police. The victim said they had a great time at lunch, and when Vann said he was going to head home, she offered for him to stay at her house, police said. Vann ended up staying ta the victim's house, in separate bedrooms, for four days, said diSpagna.
Before Vann left the victim's home, he told her he was having trouble accessing his PayPal account because some money was tied up, and asked for a loan of $20,000, according to police. The victim agreed and they drove to an ATM, where she gave Vann $20,000 in cash, police said.
After a while of not hearing from Vann, who was supposed to return the money to her shortly, the woman became suspicious and started researching him on the Internet, said diSpagna. The victim found Vann's picture on a Florida police department site for stealing a car, said police. The woman then reported to Stamford Police that she had been scammed.
A few days after she reported the scam, Vann called her again, asking for another loan of $7,000 to $14,000, police said. The victim agreed to give Vann the loan and meet him at the Ferguson Library. The woman immediately told police about the call.
According to diSpagna, Property Crimes Unit investigators John Russell and Mike Stempien accompanied the victim to meet Vann at the Ferguson Library for a sting operation. Once Vann approached the victim, he was arrested, said police.
DiSpagna said police believe Vann may have scammed several other people in different states out of money, and officers are investigating the case further.
Vann was arraigned at Stamford Superior Court on Wednesday.
http://thestamfordtimes.com/printstory/513868/
By KARA O'CONNOR Times Staff Writer
STAMFORD -- A 27-year-old man who posed as a relative of Michael Jackson in order to steal $20,000 from a Stamford woman was arrested on Tuesday afternoon, according to police.
Andrew Vann, 27, whose address is unknown, was charged with larceny in the second degree and held in lieu of a $50,000 bond after he was arrested in a sting operation at the Ferguson Library Tuesday afternoon, according to Sgt. Peter diSpagna of the Stamford Police Department's Property Crimes Unit at the Stamford Police Department.
According to diSpagna, a 34-year-old woman from Stamford called the police department on Oct. 1 to report that she had been scammed out of $20,000 cash.
The victim, who is a huge fan of the Jackson family, had first met Vann at a Jermaine Jackson book signing in New York City in September, said diSpagna. The two started talking and exchanged numbers, he said.
The victim told police that Vann had called her the day after they met and told her he would be in the area, police said. The victim invited Vann over her house for lunch, with her sister, according to police. The victim said they had a great time at lunch, and when Vann said he was going to head home, she offered for him to stay at her house, police said. Vann ended up staying ta the victim's house, in separate bedrooms, for four days, said diSpagna.
Before Vann left the victim's home, he told her he was having trouble accessing his PayPal account because some money was tied up, and asked for a loan of $20,000, according to police. The victim agreed and they drove to an ATM, where she gave Vann $20,000 in cash, police said.
After a while of not hearing from Vann, who was supposed to return the money to her shortly, the woman became suspicious and started researching him on the Internet, said diSpagna. The victim found Vann's picture on a Florida police department site for stealing a car, said police. The woman then reported to Stamford Police that she had been scammed.
A few days after she reported the scam, Vann called her again, asking for another loan of $7,000 to $14,000, police said. The victim agreed to give Vann the loan and meet him at the Ferguson Library. The woman immediately told police about the call.
According to diSpagna, Property Crimes Unit investigators John Russell and Mike Stempien accompanied the victim to meet Vann at the Ferguson Library for a sting operation. Once Vann approached the victim, he was arrested, said police.
DiSpagna said police believe Vann may have scammed several other people in different states out of money, and officers are investigating the case further.
Vann was arraigned at Stamford Superior Court on Wednesday.
http://thestamfordtimes.com/printstory/513868/