Rachel Chen Charged for Role in Tech Support Scam Targeting Elderly New Hampshire Resident

Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces that today, Rachel Chen, age 25, of North Andover, MA, was charged with a single count of theft by deception, as principal/accomplice.

The charge alleges that Ms. Chen acting in concert with and/or aided by one or more unknown persons, obtained or exercised control over U.S. Currency, property of D.L., in the amount of $20,000, by deception, and with a purpose to deprive D.L. thereof, by purposely creating the false impression, which Rachel Chen and the other unknown persons did not believe to be true, that D.L.'s financial account had been compromised and D.L. needed to give cash to a person hired by the FBI.

Investigation revealed that D.L., age 75, received an e-mail purporting to be from Microsoft. The message indicated that her financial account had been compromised and provided her with a telephone number to call. D.L. called the number and spoke with an individual. That individual forwarded her to another individual who purported to work for D.L.'s bank and instructed D.L. to withdraw $20,000 cash and tape it up in a box, which D.L. did. D.L. was told that an individual hired by the FBI would come to pick up the box. D.L. then turned over the box to an individual matching Ms. Chen's description.

Ms. Chen faces a maximum penalty on each charge of 7 ½ - 15 years in the New Hampshire State Prison and a $4,000 fine. Ms. Chen is scheduled for a probable cause hearing on April 30, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

Ms. Chen is currently being held on charges of conspiracy to commit theft by deception and accomplice to commit theft by deception in Merrimack County for similar conduct.

The charges and allegations against Ms. Chen are merely accusations, and Ms. Chen is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Investigator Calice Couchman-Ducey of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau investigated this case with the assistance of the Nashua Police Department.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend, II, and Attorney Nancy DeAngelis, of the Attorney General's Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit, are prosecuting this case.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation, please contact your local police department or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (1-800-949-0470).