Real estate scam costs Massapequa man $112,000, police say

A Massapequa man was defrauded out of $112,000 on Monday when a scammer posing as his real estate lawyer asked him to send money for closing costs, police said.

Nassau County police said the 28-year-old man received an email around 11 a.m. Monday from the scammer posing as his attorney asking him to wire the money to a bank account.

The man sent it, police said, only to soon realize the request was a scam when his real lawyer emailed him, saying he did not request the money.

Police have not identified the alleged scammer and did not say whether the money could be recovered.

They ask anyone with information to call 911 or the Nassau County Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-244-TIPS.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.