Vietnam veteran with cancer scammed out of $20,000 speaks out to warn others

BOSTON — If not for the quick thinking of local law enforcement and the victim’s willingness to speak out, more people may have fallen for a scam that cost a Vietnam veteran and cancer patient from Everett tens of thousands of dollars.

According to Charles “Chuck” Fagone, it all started — as these scams so often do — with an alarming email.

“I got an email from Amazon, saying I owed multiple monies. They said, you know, they told me the items and so forth, and I said I never ordered anything,” he told the Herald.

Fagone said he was told to call his bank, but that he was given a number that didn’t match his normal branch. The “operator” on the other end put him on with a “Mr. Cooper,” who was supposed to represent some “trade commission.”

“Cooper” told Fagone he had to keep his phone connected and on speakerphone, head to the bank, and withdraw $27,000 to cover the cost of Amazon purchases allegedly made in his name. That money, he was told, would be picked up by a man who would place it in a safe deposit box for keeping until the Amazon issues were worked out.

Fagone, who is currently in chemo therapy as he battles stomach cancer, told “Mr. Cooper” he was too sick from treatment and unable to go to the bank. The thieves pressed, he said.

“I told them: Mr. Cooper, I don’t know if I can make it to the bank. I feel lousy. He said that I had to and that it would only take a couple of minutes,” he said.

Fagone made his withdrawal, but could only take out $20,000. A man eventually arrived, took the money, and left. The thieves later called back, complaining that Fagone had only handed over part of what he owed. They told him he owed the missing $7,000, as well as another $25,000. They demanded he get that money as well.

Fagone called the police instead.

Everett Police Chief Paul Strong said that arriving officers were infuriated that an elderly combat veteran like Fagone, “the real deal,” was taken advantage of, but figured they had a shot at catching at least one of the thieves. Fagone volunteered to arrange for the second pickup.

When the man who had previously taken Fagone’s money arrived to take even more, he was instead met by a police sergeant and arrested.

After a “total team effort” by officers from the patrol division, detective division, and drug unit, Strong said via the Department’s Facebook page that Hongfei Huang, of New York, is facing several charges, including larceny over $1200 by false pretense, larceny over $250 from older or disabled person, and attempted larceny from an older disabled person.

Strong told the Herald that police are still working to track down Huang’s accomplices, but that credit is due to the victim in this case.

“I can tell you that Mr. Fagone was an active participant in this – if he wasn’t involved this case wouldn’t have been consummated – it couldn’t have come to a happy ending,” Strong said.

Fagone said that he feels like an idiot, but that the more important thing is to warn others about these scams.

“I want this to help other people, not only myself,” he said.

Strong added that he’s glad this arrest was possible, but that it’s important for people to warn their elderly loved ones and neighbors about the many scams that are occurring via the internet. Fagone said that by sharing his story, he hopes he’s doing just that.

“I have neighbors who are of my age – I ended up telling them what happened,” Fagone said. “This is an awful feeling. Thanks to the Everett Police Department for what they’ve done.”

A GoFundMe has been established to help the 77-year-old Purple Heart recipient recover his lost funds. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/support-charles-fagone-scammed-vietnam-veteran-in-need.

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