NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A 50-year-old man was arrested last month after police say he scammed a rabbi out of thousands of dollars in North Miami Beach, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
Edgar Ignacio Chang, of Hollywood, allegedly posed as a contractor offering to replace the rabbi’s air conditioning unit at his residence, located near the 17000 block of Northeast Eighth Place, according to an arrest report from the North Miami Beach Police Department.
The amount on the invoice for completing the replacement of the air conditioner was $10,200, the report stated.
According to police, Chang requested a deposit of $6,000 to purchase necessary equipment for the victim but did not have a valid contractor’s license after claiming to operate under another person’s license.
On Aug. 18, 2023, the victim transferred $4,000 to Chang via Cash App, followed by an additional $2,000 via Venmo on August 20, 2023, authorities said.
Police said Chang would provide images of equipment supposedly necessary for the job but never completed the work. Chang claimed to be hospitalized with a brain infection, which authorities suspect was fabricated.
“They drained the pus from my sinus infection and prescribed me different anti-biotics,” said Chang in a text to the rabbi.
Subsequently, on Aug. 30, 2023, Chang provided the victim with another supply invoice from South Florida Appliance, totaling $5,462, which police later confirmed as fraudulent after speaking with company representatives.
Police made several unsuccessful attempts to reach Chang between Aug. 15, 2023, and Oct. 26, 2023, but the suspect kept changing his phone number, authorities said.
The report states the victim reported unauthorized charges on his credit card statement totaling $1,016.87 on Uber Eats and $187 on T-Mobile which he only provided to Chang for supply purchases.
On Nov. 2, 2023, the victim positively identified Chang through a single photo, which led to his arrest by the NMBPD’s Tactical Investigations team on April 19.
Police said Chang declined to speak with detectives before being taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Detectives confirmed the victim’s total loss amounted to $7,203.87.
Investigators revealed that Chang has a criminal history in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, including a previous grand theft case involving a similar scam.
In response to last month’s incident, the rabbi had this message for Chang:
“You have to find better ways to get money than just stealing from people,” he said in an exclusive interview with Local 10 News.
Chang is facing one count each of third-degree grand theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, fraudulent money received by contractors and uttering forged instruments, according to jail records.
He is scheduled for a court appearance on May 20.
North Miami Beach police say individuals who believe they have fallen victim to Chang are encouraged to contact them at 305-949-5500.