ESSEX — Police arrested a Revere man Wednesday who allegedly tried to con an Essex resident out of $15,000 in cash as part of a common computer technical support scam.
Yi Peng Luo, 35, of Revere, was arrested and charged with:
- Attempt to Commit a Crime (Larceny Over $1,200)
According to a statement from Essex Police Chief Thomas Shamshak Jr., at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, Essex police were contacted by a family member of an Essex resident who had been told—via internet and telephone—that their computer was infected with a virus.
“The scammer claimed that to fix the situation, the resident had to pay $15,000 in cash immediately, which the resident was prepared to do,” Chief Shamshak said in his statement.
Police said the family member reached out to officers right before the transaction was about to occur. Sergeant Daniel Bruce and Officer David Vangelist responded promptly and intercepted an alleged courier – later identified as Luo – at the resident’s home before any money was handed over.
An on-scene investigation, assisted by Chief Shamshak and Detective Sgt. Robert Wheway, determined that Luo had no legitimate reason to be at the home. Police took him into custody shortly afterward.
Investigators believe Luo may not have been acting alone and are continuing to investigate who else might have been involved.
“If we catch you trying to scam our residents, you will be arrested,” Chief Shamshak said in a statement. “These types of scams are increasingly common in Essex and across the Commonwealth, and I hope this arrest sends the message that we will not stand idly by and let our residents be victimized. I want to praise the rapid response of Sgt. Bruce and Officer Vangelist, who were able to detain this courier before he could leave with a resident’s money. I’d also like to thank Detective Sgt. Wheway for his assistance and expertise at the scene.”
Luo is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Gloucester District Court.
In response to the incident, Essex police shared guidance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warning residents about common scam tactics, such as impersonating government or tech company employees, creating false urgency, and demanding payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
The department urged residents who believe they have been targeted by similar scams to contact the Essex Police Department at 978-768-6628 before sending money or providing personal information.
