Brooklyn Man Charged After South Portland Police Say Fake U.S. Marshals Took $125,000 From a Resident in Cash

Published Nov. 12, 2026. Case status is current as of that date.

The callers said they were with the U.S. Marshals Service. A South Portland, Maine, resident's Social Security number had been compromised, they said, and purchases were being made in his name. The only way to protect his money was to hand cash to "undercover federal agents."

He did, twice, and even got receipts, according to the South Portland Police Department. By the time he went to police, he had lost more than $125,000.

When the callers asked for more, detectives helped set up what they called "a ruse." On Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, a man arrived at the Lowe's parking lot in Scarborough to meet the resident. Detectives watching nearby arrested Jian Chen, 49, of Brooklyn, New York, and charged him with theft by deception, according to the department's news release as reported by the Portland Press Herald and WGME [1][2].

Important: Chen is charged, not convicted, and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. We found no public statement from him or a defense lawyer.

What police allege

According to the South Portland Police Department, as reported by the Press Herald and WGME [1][2]:

• The story. A caller impersonating a U.S. Marshals Service agent told the resident his Social Security number had been compromised and purchases were being made under his name.
• The "solution." "The alleged agent told the victim that the only way to stop the crimes and keep his finances safe was to provide undercover federal agents with cash payments," the department stated, as quoted by the Press Herald. "The victim was convinced this was a legitimate investigation, and proceeded with the requests."
• Fake credentials. WGME reported that the scammers sent the resident photos of badges and credentials that police later determined were AI-generated or stock internet images.
• Two handoffs, two couriers. The resident met someone he believed was an undercover agent twice, paid in cash, and got receipts. A different person came each time.
• The sting. When the scammers kept asking for more money, detectives worked with the resident to "set up a ruse and help organize another cash payment." A different person, Chen, arrived at the Lowe's lot in Scarborough and was taken into custody without incident.
• A larger ring. Police said they believe Chen "is part of a large-scale fraud ring" and are investigating other suspected participants.

The public reports do not say Chen was one of the two people who collected the earlier payments. The resident is not named, and we do not name him.

The department also warned: "There appears to be a recent uptick in these types of scams in our area lately," adding that multiple people had reported losing tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars [1].

The person charged and his status

Jian Chen, 49, of Brooklyn, N.Y. Arrested Oct. 27, 2026, in Scarborough, Maine, by South Portland detectives; charged with theft by deception. Taken to the Cumberland County Jail, where WGME reported bail was set at $50,000 [2]. He has not been convicted. The reports do not give a court date, case number or the outcome of any initial appearance. Whether he will face additional charges is pending.

Why "the Marshals" and why receipts

Government-impersonation scammers pick agencies that sound powerful and that most people have never dealt with directly. The U.S. Marshals Service is a real federal agency that serves warrants and transports prisoners, which makes a call claiming to be from it frightening. But the Marshals do not call people to demand money, and no federal agency sends couriers to collect cash to "protect" your savings.

Details like badge photos and handwritten receipts are props. They are meant to make the handoff feel official and to keep the target from asking questions. According to WGME, the badge images in this case were AI-generated or pulled from the internet [2].

Red flags

These are general warning signs, not claims about any person beyond what police allege.

• A call, text or email from "law enforcement" demanding cash. Police say no legitimate agency will do this [2].
• "Your Social Security number has been compromised" followed by a plan to move your money.
• Badge photos or ID cards sent by text. Anyone can fake these.
• Instructions to lie to your bank about why you're withdrawing cash. Police say scammers commonly tell targets to say it's for home repairs.
• Being told bank employees are "in on it."
• Couriers who change every time you hand over money.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Hang up immediately and don't give out personal or financial information, as South Portland police advise [2].
2. Verify independently. Look up the agency's official phone number yourself. The real U.S. Marshals Service will never ask you for cash, gift cards or crypto.
3. Call your local police if anyone asks you to hand over money in person, and tell your bank right away.
4. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI at ic3.gov, and the Social Security Administration's inspector general at oig.ssa.gov if Social Security was mentioned.
5. Older adults and families can call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.

Case status (as of Nov. 12, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status	Source
Jian Chen, 49, Brooklyn, N.Y.	Maine state court (Cumberland County)	Arrested Oct. 27, 2026; charged with theft by deception; bail reported at $50,000; court dates and further charges status pending; not convicted; presumed innocent	[1], [2]

Statuses can change. The department's narrative news release was not found on the city's website; the arrest, date, charge and custody are confirmed by South Portland's official adult arrest log for Oct. 23–30, 2026, which lists Jian Chen of Brooklyn, N.Y., taken into custody at 5:57 p.m. on Oct. 27 (booking 2026000680, case 2026022036) for theft by deception and gives his age as 48. The news release quoted by the Press Herald described him as 49.

Sources

1. Drew Johnson, "South Portland detectives arrest N.Y. man accused in $125,000 phone scam," Portland Press Herald, Oct. 28, 2026 (quoting a South Portland Police Department news release). https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/28/south-portland-detectives-arrest-n-y-man-accused-in-phone-scam/
2. Ariana St Pierre, "$125K stolen from South Portland man in impersonation scam; New York man charged," WGME, Oct. 29, 2026 (citing South Portland police). https://wgme.com/news/local/125k-stolen-from-south-portland-man-in-impersonation-scam-new-york-man-charged-scammers-jian-chen-maine-theft-by-deception-police
3. South Portland Police Department, Weekly Arrest Log — Adult, Oct. 23–30, 2026 (printed Nov. 2, 2026), booking 2026000680, case 2026022036. https://www.southportland.org/DocumentCenter/View/5252/Adult_Arrest_Oct23_to_Oct30_2026-PDF

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