By COLlive reporter
A con artist who has been targeting Orthodox Jews for years is still at work, tricking kind-hearted unsuspecting people into giving him substantial sums of money.
Last year, more than a dozen Orthodox Jews came forward to complain they were scammed by a ‘fake frum’ con artist in New York City who tricked them into giving him substantial sums of money with tales of bad fortune, the Forward reported.
The fraudster, who often approaches his targets near rail stations just before Shabbos, proffers panicked appeals to help a stranded fellow Jew who must get home before sundown, after which traditional Jewish law forbids travel.
He may offer a bogus home address or even an actual cell phone number, the Forward reports, but he refuses to repay his debts as promised.
On Wednesday, Meir, a Lubavitch bochur, said that he was the fraudster’s latest victim, having handed over $100 to him after the man claimed “his car was towed and he didn’t have any money because his wife had his credit card.”
“He gave me a number and told me his name is David Cohen,” Meir told COLlive.com. “When I got home someone showed me the articles about him and I recognized him right away.”
Police have been investigating the man for years, it has been reported. Dozens of victims have come forward, complaining about the man who identified himself with different names including “Ethan Schwartz,” “Glenn Goldstein,” “Dave Cohen” and “Chaim Goldman,” among other names.
He speaks the Orthodox lingo well, quoting Torah verses on the fly, thereby invoking the victims’ sense of loyalty to a kindred Jew, the Forward reported.
Meir is concerned about the many thousands of guests who are travelling to New York this weekend for the Kinus Hashluchos. “I want them to beware of this con man and not get taken in as well,” he said.
Raboisai, the guy was apprehended by NYPD yesterday! Please be ready to help out with the process.
Mount sini hospital this Friday 7/5/19. $100…
Who can post the police info to report him?
Walk into your local precinct and make a report. Then write the report number and call (718) 330-5716 Detective Razzo and give him the report number and tell
him what happened.
Greetings everyone, My name is Detective Razzo of the NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force and as stated above I am assigned to this investigation now. I’m looking for individuals who have been scammed by the person in the video but I do require certain information. 1. A receipt or bank statement showing that the money was withdrawn (Date & Amount). 2. Any supporting documents: a. Screen shot of his number on your phone, and/or b. Text message or email conversations, and/or c. A phone statement may be required to show that phone calls were made to this person. 3. A… Read more »
There is a new detective assigned to this case in place of Brian Erbis. Please contact him asap.
[email protected]
718-330-5716
Chaim Greenberg Brooklyn NY
Got me for
I also got scammed by this mamzer at the dmv on Atlantic ave.
He said the same story about his car being towed. I began to drive him to the impound after giving him $90. After 5 min into the drive he told me he left some papers at the dmv and he had to go back to pick them up. I drove him back to the dmv, he told me not to wait as he feels bad for me to wait.
I also got scammed by this mamzer at the dmv on Atlantic ave.
He said the same story about his car being towed. I began to drive him to the impound after giving him $90. After 5 min into the drive he told me he left some papers at the dmv and he had to go back to pick them up. I drove him back to the dmv, he told me not to wait as he feels bad for me to wait.
Well, Rabbosai, we’ve got to take care of this man; he’s a danger to the whole Tzibur! I’ve been jobbed as #92. I knew all along something’s fishy, but he catches you deliberately close to Shabbos so that you’ve no time or patience to think for a second, as you’re itching to get home. What a rascal! But face it, he does it real professional.
Beware, he lets his beard grow too, so don’t let the present picture be accurate
I was just scammed by this guy for $160 .. I should be able to get him on video . Will keep all posted. It happened by 35th and 9thave. Same story as above said he needed help because his car was towed and would not get home on time for Shabbos
I think I was approached by this guy back in the Spring of 2012 in Penn Station. I was wearing a Penn State hat, and he used that as his approach. He clearly knew the campus by reciting random buildings and dorms on campus. Long story short, using the PSU connection he scammed me out of $200 because he said he stranded and needed a place to stay. During the course of our conversation he asked if I was Jewish. I wrote my money of long ago, but if someone wanted to try to figure out the PSU connection maybe… Read more »
#92 please make a police report immediately and tell your sister in law to do the same!!!!
2 Weeks ago on erev shabbos (before Tisha B’Uv) in front of NYU i went with him 2 a ATM to take out $100, for his car that was towed, he toled me how bad the city is that they wont take his wife’s credit card from over the phone… he asked me if i ever had that my car was towed… then he told me that he will even repay me the 3 dollar ATM charge, i almost forgot about the story, BUT……… The following week my sister in law told my wife that her husband gave someone $200… Read more »
Just got scammed by him for $100 bucks, what a rotten human being, he is using the kindness of other people to his advantage.
He scammed me out of about $80 like two years ago. Great actor, but ruins it for people who actually need.
He got $80 from me and deserved every penny with his brilliant acting and my naivety…
I had the same story yesterday 5/17/16 At the ICFF show in the javits center
EVERYONE WHO GOT SCAMMED, EMAIL ME AT
CATCHINGGANEV AT GMAIL DOT COM
I’LL SUGGEST WHAT STEPS TO TAKE, WHOM TO CONTACT, ETC . TRY TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED AND LEAVE A PHONE # IF POSSIBLE.
This Ganev found me today in front of Colombia Hospital in Manhattan, he was crying and gave the “towed away car” story, at first he asked me where im heading to, when I told him that im heading upstate thru the GW je asked me to take him him to the pond which is at 12 and 38 in midtown, of course I refused, so he started crying and promised me the world, and his wife is so upset now bla bla bla, and he told me he will quick pay me tonight from a friends account the money and… Read more »
First he scammed me 7 years ago near the WTC using his impounded car story. i got $140 from the bank for him. he used glenn goldstein.
then TODAY this shtark looking guy at DSW goes through the same impounded car story. I threatened to go right to the police and he quickly ran out.
my husband was conned out of $60 about 2 or 3 weeks ago, the same day as my son-in-law’s friend for $200. I think I would have been more suspicious – I’m cheap by nature. never lend more than you can afford to lose.
Happened to me on Friday Dec.4th at Grand Central. He claimed his car was towed and had to get back to Westchester before Shabbat. Wanted me to go to get his car from the West side tow lot. I would not go with him but gave him $100 because he was short and could not get his car back. He was well dressed and seemed sincere. I am lucky I didn’t go with him and know there is a G-D and David Glickman or what ever his name is will get what’s coming to him. I am always willing to… Read more »
Happened to me on Nov. 16, 2015 outside a FedEx at 75 Broad Street (10004). He said his name is Adam Goldsmith and his current cell phone number is 914-299-6300. He gave me the, “my car was towed” story.
Each and every one of you. Don’t leave until they make an official report. Speak to a Sergeant if they resist. Describe him and what happened.
Is there a way to stop this guy?
I was going into the hospital to pick up my wife and newborn baby, he approached me with this same towed car story, he was almost crying, I had an almost certain felling that its a scam, but figured I’ll take a chance to help out a yid. He took from me $200 plus atm fees (even mentioned that its not ribis to pay back the fees….) We exchanged info, he text me the next day that he will send it out and spice then just ignores me. But im still proud that it could only happen by us since… Read more »
Same car towed story, gave him 100$…
I saw him standing in front of NYU hospital at 1:30 PM on E38th St btwn 2nd and 3rd Avenues. He ran away when he saw me.
I wanted to get a clear front view picture of his face, to post on more websites and in shuls. He is still getting more victims every day.
This past Erev Shabat w the same sob story about the towed car. He drove him 2 hrs away to the tow yard 🙁 and my husband was almost late for Shabat due to this guy. On the way my husband spoke w him divrei Torah and he looked clueless
2 friends of mine were scammed by this guy last week. Both of them bumped into him outside NYU Hospital. He’s a smooth talker Connman like you’ve never seen before. He had them both drive to the Tow Pound to bail out his car. He took $150 from each. Be careful.
He got me for $80 of hard earned money a couple of months ago with a story that his car was towed. And his mother is in the hospital
He got me today in Manhattan, on 3rd Ave and E 30th St, at 1:30 PM.
BTW – he is definitely Jewish. A casual conversation did not reveal anything suspicios. Only later when I googled his phone number did I find out, from this site.
I am this guys most recent victim, approached me in one of the major city hospitals with the same towed car story. I am determined to stop this man after reading all these comments and hearing the same story over and over again. IF YOU SEE THIS MAN OR ARE APPROACHED BY HIM PLEASE CALL ME ASAP 347-948-9970 OR EMAIL ME [email protected]
Same Israeli man as in #58 posting approached me in Hebrew near Lenox Hill hospital. Cried that his son was in there and he had just stepped off the plane to be with him. It was winter in NY and the man was wearing summer clothing. He was crying that he literally bought a plane ticket and flew to NY with just the clothing on his back to be with his dying son. I cried with him and gave him 100$. When I got home I discovered from my husband that the same man approached him about a month before… Read more »
totally agree #29
i had same story as #58
after i realised all the things i could have done;
ask to see id, passport something,
call the car towing place or in my situation a hotel, or whatever it is, verify the story, and if they are stuck for shabbos- invite them to stay over! you will soon see if it is fake
i’d give them enough to buy themselves lunch, just in case they are really hungry. then i’d suggest that they take a cab home! if they claim the only reason they don’t have money is because they’re stranded without cash or credit cards (but assure you they will repay your loan as soon as they get home) then there are ways for them to tykeh get home without your “loan.” i have, on several occasions, found that i was short of the full fare and have had to ask a cabbie to wait while someone in my apartment came down… Read more »
#34 this is a different man but I was glad to see your comment because we were almost scammed by that British man and I felt terrible not giving him. I’m happy to see you confirm it as a scam. Thank you
HIS NAME IS NOT WEINSTEIN FROM LAKEWOOD IS HE?
He did the same thing to me just this week.
BEWARE! Don’t let yourself get fooled. He seems to be honest but he’s a big thief.
His phone number is 914-299-6300
He introduced himself as David
I was ALMOST scammed a couple of years ago when he approached me in DSW at the Atlantic mall. Thank goodness I didn’t have any cash on me to give him, because I was very close to do so. He is a master of persuasion.
YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY STUPID AND DUMB TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN BY THIS LOWLIFE.
AVOID SCAMMERS FOR DUMMIES.
1) ASK HIM TO SAY THE FIRST LINE OF SHEMA
2) CAN HE SAY THE NAME CHAIM, CHALLAH, CHANUKA
3) ASK HIM FOR THE NAME AND PHONE NUMBER OF 2 MEMBERS OF HIS SHUL AND CALL THEM.
4) ASK HIM IF HE KNOWS WHAT PASSOVER SEDER
5) ASK TO SPEAK TO HIS BANK OR WIFE.
ETC ETC ETC
It’s still tzedakah!!
we got this title because we help others.
at the same time, men darf hoben seichel
a guy used to walk around our shul in LA with a prescription claiming he needs money for his kid’s medicine.
finally once we offered to drive him to the pharmacy and pay for it directly.
he took off and never showed up again
A few yrs ago i met him in a store near penn station. I told him i have no cash so he said i should take from the atm and he will pay back the extra fee. I gave him $300! he said his car was towed and he needed to get to West Chester before Shabbos… BUT… i heard a wise comment from someone that gives alot of tzedaka to people that sometimes sound like they make up stories. “If the story is true that they are sick homeless etc then b”h i can help them. If the story… Read more »
For those that are looking for excuses to say “no” to another Yid in their time of need, you have your excuse.
Just remember what the Bal shem tov taught; Hashem treats you the way you treat others. If you give without scrutinizing if the receiver is worthy then Hashem won’t scrutinize you before he responds to your requests.
Mi yitzdak lifonecho badin? can any one of us stand up to true scrutiny before Hashem?!
Many years ago I was in Taipei and a man asked me for 60 dollars so he could get a taxi to the airport. I gave it to him without expecting it back. 6 years later he found me and paid me back.
In 2001, an Israeli man approached me at a park ave subway station. He gave me a story that his son is in the hospital and he needs money. I was totally sucked in. Nevertheless, my friend’s husband was approached by the same man a month prior. I reported it to the police, but never heard if he got caught. Later it was discovered that there is a group of people who do this and target religious Jews. Oy vey!
Please. Keep giving to everyone tzedaka
It is a great ze
chus to be in the giving side and Hashem is sending you the guy ( regardless his intentions)
Don’t let your yetzer ara win with his genius advice that this guy is a fake or a con artist
To. # 36. You sound as the one being trapped by your yetzer ara
Agree with. # 21. And # 29
Be smart and now don’t give more tzedaka for towing erev Shabbos
His name is glucksman
Even if you got duped
He may be the bad guy but beats being on the receiving side of tzdakah any time
hashem has his reasons for everithing but we might not be able to see it
1) it happened to me in Manhattan I gave him 400 from a cash advanced that he suggested I do for him and watched him run in to the subway
2) to all those thinking about helping another yid you are right however we cannot be stupid that’s exactly what I was thinking when I gave him the money but after I lost the money you realize first be smart and you will have a lot more opertunies to help .
Just understand it is not a good feeling to know someone just took such advantage of you !
How do you know he is Jewish?
Mosdos even you dn’t have kids there. It has priority !!!
call the cops in the station next time you see him.hes a real thief.he conned me into giving him 60 dollars.please should know about this and get him arrested!
to help a persons neshama and avoid them coming back as a gilgul to repay you, always have in mind that if they dont pay you back you mochel the debt.
Chassidim emulate the Rebbe
I was in a Duane Reade with my kippa on and he gave me the whole car tow story. This guy is a choleh
sure you have to give tzedaka. its a mitvah to give the poor in your community first. if you don’t know the guy and don’t know if his story is true then give $20 (more than enough to get home). two guys that did this in crown heights would buy drugs with the money. so is it a mitzvah. give them some food.
I was in best buy Black Friday weekend in Atlantic mall he told me his car was impounded and he lives upstate and I told him come meet me at 770 he told me he has to go upstate he lives there and he’s late for work so he told me he will mail me a check then he told me his wife had. A baybe and he’s been busy and told me they don’t except checks by the impound he answered me for like 2-3days and now he doesn’t answer my calls or text bit have a. filling that’s… Read more »
I had this guy meet me in office max at least 5 years ago and also told me david cohen and how his car was in brooklyn navy yard… i gave him only 40 bucks and he promised after me check his cell number to pay me back by bringing the money to CH i called him and he keped on pushing it off
There aré different ways to ask for tzedaka
Some of them aré kosher some aré not so
Someimes they ask you money for one cause ,they raíse moré money than they nerd snd they dont vive you the money back. They keep the money for simething else. That maybe you wouldnt agree to give it
Hére is similar in the way they tell you that they need it for tosing etc and they they use it for food
BH
All of you who gave money/tzdoko to him, without a doubt have done a Mitzvah and that should never be undervalued.
this that you will never see your money again just makes it a bigger Mitzvah.
Folks lets not lose focus on whats right and whats wrong. May G-D bless all of you who have given with doubly brochos.
Met him in Grand central and Penn station.
I live out-of-town. There are yidden who come from all over the world to collect tzedaka here. Some very wealthy folks here won’t even open the door for them, claiming that they are likely fakes, and why don’t they just get a job! My view is that Hashem couldn’t make a mitzvah any easier for me–He even brings the mitzvah straight to me and it knocks on my door! Let Hashem sort out who is real, If your intention was to help another Jew and do chesed, you’ve done your part. Let the police do their part, and let it… Read more »
I agree 100% with number 29. That’s how a yid should be!! Kol hakavod to you for the TRUTH. What a beautiful Yid you are. I am sure Hashem is very proud of you.
When ever someone asks me for that kind money isay i don’t have ive been doing this for and never got scammed i also never give mony to the shkotzim who come to crown hights.
Doesn’t it say that we should be grateful to the scammers, because it gives us an excuse before the Heavenly Court, for the times we didn’t give…..
You have a right to be stupid but don’t publicize your silly advice
for all to know!
It was a nice thing to give money to a man who “needed” it but….
is this the guy that has a large tooth in the front. he told me he owned a restaurant in London…scammer
i gave him 40$ once, next i saw him 2 years later, i was looking for some police. but there was none around.
Next time, give what you would think of giving to the scammer to one of these two worthy organizations. If you can afford to lose $100 to him, you can donate to them, where your money does good.
I knew it wouldn’t be long before some holier-than-thou worries about meseira. If it happened to you, you would be first on line screaming “hang the gonif!”
You remind me of this definition: A conservative is a liberal who was never mugged. And for the record, I was not a victim of this thief. But I really sympathize with all these kind but foolish & trusting people who parted with their hard-earned cash.
To all those that say they were “scammed” – be proud of yourselves, Yiddin are supposed to be rachmonim, its in our DNA.
Every time I hear a sob story and I am not sure if its true I say that I’d rather be scammed than to chas v’sholom turn my back on a fellow yid.
Every one of you that were “scammed” will be paid back from Hashem tenfold.
I was once stuck without money. I waited all day for a passport and when my turn came I realized I did not have the fee. I was dejected after wasting a whole day! A kind Yid was passing by on the street GAVE me $75 as a gift! I never got his name but what a tzaddik. Point is – I am a normal regular person and sometimes these crazy situations ARE true!
Took $60 Plus $3 at fees in Century 21 in Manhattan about 5 yrs ago. Said he was part of Young Israel in Westchester. Similar Story. Was not able to find him after.
All those that post that they would never give anyone more then 5$ its because they are just plain cheap
That kind of scam is years old….
Here there was one just like him. Guy dresses in suit, tie, leather brief case…the works…his story is that his car was parked and clamped. Needs money to get home on train….to sound credible, he pays brief case and offers to leave you his laptop…more than likely you’ll decline so you feel bad and hand him something.
Just be super vigilant.
Best way to deal with it is to say you only have card on you.
I remember same story from a guy 20 years ago at subway before shabbos coming back from my route .
Is he aRound that long? Or it’s another guy
I gave the guy 200$ to untow his car in order for him to ‘get home’ to White Plains before Shabbes
I’m a chabad bachur, but even if a man comes up to me asking for money, I’d give him $5 max p.s. lever lend money if you afford to not get paid back, that goes for any loan!
This guy needs this money and he doesn’t have a letter from an org to ask
It’s small money
Live and let live
Hashem will give you back many times more
Can we get clearer pic of him. Thanks.
Same story happend to me ,two months ago at the DMV same thing, credit card…no money.He wanted $150.
Nice guys finish last…definitely has some truth to it. Can’t be too naive in this world be cautious of the choshech
I am a Shaliach from out of town when I was approached in 770 By a guy called “Shamai” and told me that there’s a family in crown Hights whose about to be evicted from his house and needed $5000 immediately he offered me a check for $5000 good in 30 days I was in New York to celebrate my son’s engagement and I was grateful to do a mitzvah only to find out in 30 days that the check what’s written on a closed account it’s been four years and I have still not been repaid when I spoke… Read more »
This guy scammed me in the city for 100+ bucks too. He saw that i was a religious Jew, asks approached me with a story about how his cab drove off with his wallet and luggage, he was even crying… I felt terrible for him, i thought he was a fellow “frum Jew” who was just having a really bhad day… We exchanged info, but i was never able to reach him again. It was this guy, I remember his face clearly. It’s sad that I don’t know who I can’t trust anymore these days… This guy ruins it for… Read more »
Im sorry but thats the truth.
it’s guys like him that make if difficult for people that REALLY need help.
he got 40 from me
He got my husband! 100 dollars!
COL: I have a request. Please present a discussion or essay by a competent rav about the situations when we’re allowed to report a Yid to the police. The video that’s included on this page encourages us to report this guy to NYPD. When is mesira allowed and when is it not? Thank you.
question, he now owes me $90. how much am I allowed to get back from him by threatening to turn him in? and who should I give the money to?
when will people learn not to fall for sob stories. More often they are not true. Its also amazing that people can give so much money to a stranger just like that. For me five dollars would be a lot to give someone off the street.
No person gives more than few dollars to beggar on the street.
What a horrible man.
I never had any dealings with this creep, but I will make sure my kids & everyone I can reach knows about this. Thanks!
He nearly got me on an Erev Shabbos in Macy’s a year and a half ago.
he got 60 bucks from me in the city, guess its not always good to the nice guy
I was also scammed by this nasty man. It’s people like this who ruin it for all of us who’d love to trust and be helpful to one another.
Since being conned by this sick man, I’m so much more wary of listening to people troubles and of helping them.
Sad really…
he approached me in grand central ,his approach was really well planed. anyway after he ignored my phone calls i went back to grand central and sure enough he was there.
i told him if he dissent give me back the money I’mcalling police he paneled and i asked him how much money he has on him.. any way i TOOK back a third of what he owed me (i felt bad to leave him with nothing) but after reading this I will catch this guy and…
What a Rasha