Luo, Renze
18 3921 (A) Theft by Unlawful Taking (F3)
18 3925 A Receiving Stolen Property (F3)
Age
22
Race
Chinese
Gender
Male
Oct 13th, 2023
Description
Lycoming Regional Police Department was dispatched to 15074 Coudersport Pike in Cummings Township, Lycoming County on October 12, 2023 around 3:38PM for a reported suspicious person incident. The 911 caller reported that earlier today she and her husband received a message on their computer, indicating their computer was hacked and directed them to call a telephone number. The victims called the telephone number and spoke to male with a heavy foreign Indian accent, identified only as “RONNIE CHASE”. “CHASE” told the victims that their bank accounts had been hacked and they needed to withdraw all their money and provide it to a “Federal Agent”. “CHASE” told the victims a “Federal Agent would come to their home and pick up the money, take it to the Federal Reserve to clean it and it would then be deposited back into their bank accounts”. CHASE gave specific instructions to the victims including how to package the US Currency and provided them with the code word, “black”, that the “Federal Agent” would use when he came to retrieve their money.
“CHASE” stayed on the telephone with the victims throughout the day. At one point in the phone conversation “CHASE” directed the victim to walk outside and hand the “Federal Agent” the money. The victim walked outside his home and found an Asian male standing there. The Asian male was wearing a black shirt, black pants and a blue surgical mask. The Asian male continually stated “black” to the victim.
The victim asked the Asian male for identification. The Asian male said he didn’t have any identification, turning his pockets inside/out. The Asian male continued to say “black”. Believing the victim was not a “Federal Agent” the victim did not provide him with the box of money. The victim asked the male about his car, seeing none in the driveway. The male told the victim he drove a Toyota. The Asian male subsequently left the area on foot without the money. This caused the victims to call 911 immediately.
Police advised area police units in Lycoming and Clinton Counties to be on the lookout for the suspicious Asian male. When Lycoming Regional Police arrived at the victim’s home “CHASE” was still talking on the telephone to them. “CHASE” was aggressively trying to convince the victims to provide the money to the “Federal Agent”.
Woodward Township Police Department in Clinton County subsequently located a Toyota being operated by an Asian male that matched the description. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was identified as RENZE LUO of State College, PA. LUO provided police with an expired Pennsylvania driver’s license. Blue surgical masks were observed in LUO’S vehicle. LUO, who indicated he was a student at Pennsylvania State University, only indicated he was “looking around the area”. The victims positively identified LUO as the individual that came to their home and attempted to take their money.
LUO was arrested for felony attempted theft by unlawful taking and attempted receiving stolen property. LUO told police he was from China and currently attending Penn State University as a student. LUO admitted to going to the victim’s home but when questioned further, invoked his right to an attorney. LUO was arraigned in front of the local magistrate and committed to Lycoming County Prison on $20,000.00 bail. LUO has since bailed out of prison.
Anyone with additional information about LUO is asked to contact Detective Mahosky at 570-323-4987×465 or SUBMIT A TIP.
Charges
18 3921 (A) Theft by Unlawful Taking (F3)
18 3925 A Receiving Stolen Property (F3)
Location
15074 Coudersport Pike
Lock Haven, PA 17745
Arrest Date
Oct 12, 2023
Incident Type
Theft
Reference ID
23-4626
Penn State student from China charged in attempt to scam money from Pa. couple
Published: Oct. 14, 2023, 10:11 p.m.
WILLIAMSPORT – A Penn State student from China has been charged in a scheme to scam money from a Lycoming County couple.
Renze Luo, 22, pretended he was a “federal agent” sent to a home in rural Cummings Twp. on Thursday to pick up money to have it “cleaned” by the Federal Reserve, police said.
The following is description of the incident provided by Lycoming Regional Police:
The couple received a message on their computer that it had been hacked and they needed to call a telephone number that was provided.
The made the call and were told by a male with an Indian accent who identified himself as Ronnie Chase to withdraw all their money and provide it to a federal agent who would be coming to their home in the northwestern part of the county.
The were told the money would be deposited back into their bank account after it was “cleaned.”
Chase told the couple how to package the currency and provided them with the code word “black” that the “agent” would use when he came for the money.
Chase stayed on the telephone with the couple throughout the day and at one point directed one of them to walk outside and hand the “agent” the money.
When the husband did as directed he encountered an Asian male wearing a black shirt, black pants and a blue surgical mask who repeatedly said “black.”
The husband asked for identification, but the Asian male said he didn’t have any as he turned his pockets inside/out.
Believing the Asian male was not a federal agent, the husband did not give him the box of money.
Not seeing a vehicle, the husband asked about a car and the Asian male replied he drove a Toyota.
The couple immediately called 911 after the man left and when police arrived Chase still was on the phone trying to convince them to turn over the money.
Woodward Twp. police in Clinton County subsequently stopped a Toyota driven by an Asian male in which blue surgical masks were observed.
The driver, identified as Luo of State College, produced an expired Pennsylvania driver’s license. He admitted going to the home but claimed he was just looking around the area.
He was arraigned on charges of theft and attempt to receive stolen property. He was jailed in lieu of $20,000 bail but has since posted it.
This was the second such incident Lycoming Regional Police have investigated in three months. This is their account of an earlier one:
An elderly Hepburn Twp. woman on July 18 received an email that her home computer had been hacked and she was directed to call a telephone number.
When she did she was convinced she needed to withdraw a substantial amount of money to fix the issue.
While remaining on the phone with the scammer, she went to a bank, withdrew money and placed it in a paper bag.
On July 19 she gave it to an Asian male wearing black who came to home. He claimed he did not have any identification but allowed her to take his picture.
It is not known if the two incidents are related, police said. The man the woman photographed was not Luo, they said.
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