“Hello” SMS Scammer Arrested in Connecticut: Police

BRANFORD, Conn. – A New York man involved in a scheme that sends unsolicited “Hello” text messages that sometimes show up on our phones was arrested after scamming someone in Connecticut, according to Branford police.

Branford police arrested Wenije He, 31, of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., on Friday after he traveled to Connecticut as a courier to pick up a large amount of cash that police believe was used in a criminal enterprise.

Police said this scam resulted from someone sending text messages to an unsuspecting person. These messages usually start with “Hello” and have no other context. Scammers do this to initiate conversations with people and create fake online relationships, which can lead to them extorting money from the victim after gaining their trust.

He is charged with theft and telephone fraud and is being held on $200,000 bond. Police are working to track down additional people involved in this particular scam.

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The police are now warning residents about such scams. Police said to ignore any unsolicited text messages, including “Hello” text messages that come from an unknown number.

Text messages that appear to have been sent to you accidentally can also be scams. Scammers expect the victim to respond with “Sorry, wrong number” to start the conversation. It is recommended that you ignore these text messages as well.

Never send money, give out personal information or meet someone you don't know, police advise.

Anyone who notices suspicious activity is asked to call the Branford Police Department at 203-481-4241.

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