the staff of the Ridgewood blog
GLEN ROCK, NJ — A New York man accused of swindling elderly North Jersey residents out of nearly half a million dollars is now in custody after police tracked him down, authorities confirmed.
At 12:07 p.m. on Sunday, August 11, the NYPD apprehended Abba Cohen, 40, of Flushing, NY, who was wanted in Glen Rock following a January 2024 home improvement scam that cost an elderly resident $25,800, Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann said.
The Glen Rock Scam
Cohen was charged with conspiracy to commit theft by deception and receiving stolen property after posing as a home improvement contractor and targeting an elderly victim. Police say the scam left the senior resident thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Prior Charges in Passaic County
This wasn’t Cohen’s first brush with the law in New Jersey. In October 2024, Passaic County prosecutors accused him of running a nearly identical scam in Woodland Park, where an elderly resident lost $432,000.
In that case, Cohen was charged with:
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Conspiracy to commit theft by deception
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Receiving stolen property
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Money laundering
He was later released on pre-trial monitoring following a court appearance.
Arrest and Extradition
Cohen was arrested in New York City on August 11 and remains in custody at Rikers Island while awaiting extradition to New Jersey to face charges in both Bergen and Passaic counties, Ackermann said.
Protecting Seniors From Scams
Law enforcement officials continue to urge New Jersey residents to remain vigilant against home improvement fraud and elderly-targeted scams, which have been on the rise. Seniors are advised to:
✅ Verify contractors are licensed with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs
✅ Never pay the full amount upfront for home repairs
✅ Be cautious of unsolicited offers for work
✅ Report suspicious activity to local police immediately
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