Metro

Crook scammed elderly woman out of over $100K: prosecutors

A heartless Brooklyn crook scammed an 87-year-old woman out of over $100,000, gaining her trust​ ​through a seeming act of kindness –​ ​driving her​ ​around ​on errands, the Brooklyn​ ​district​ ​​attorney said Wednesday.

Ariel L. Hernandez, 41, was charged with grand larceny for writing himself $42,500 worth of checks out of his elderly victim’s checking account between November 2013 and April 2014, according to a DA press release.

The retired social worker met Hernandez in 2012 when he worked as a driver at a car service and began to write him checks for trips and for what she thought were emergency car repairs.

The octogenarian wrote Hernandez checks for $59,000 – in addition to the $42,500 he stole from her account – between May 2012 and March 2014, the press release said.

“This defendant allegedly ran a scam and preyed on a vulnerable woman who trusted him. We will not tolerate such shameful acts of elder fraud anywhere in Brooklyn,” said Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson.

The DA investigation revealed that Hernandez took about $42,000 out of his own account via ATM withdrawals and also spent about $400 at a restaurant.

Hernandez was hit with charges including grand larceny and faces up to seven years if convicted.