Orange County Man Scams Woman Out of $50,000
According to a statement from Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, a 33-year-old Orange County man scammed a woman out of $50,000.
In a press release shared to social media, D.A. Hoovler explains that Michael Benedetto of New Windsor New York allegedly matched with his victim on the dating app Bumble in 2020.
As the 2 began a relationship Benedetto began asking the victim for money for various reasons like “his sick dog, medical procedures, and moving costs due to a new home purchase.”
The statement adds that “Benedetto’s requests for money for various reasons became more frequent.”
After an investigation, authorities revealed that Benedetto “had been lying to the victim in order to induce her to continue giving him money.” Back in 2023, Benedetto was found in Nanuet, NY and was placed under arrest and charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree.
In July 2024, Benedetto pled guilty “and subsequently failed to appear for sentencing resulting in a bench warrant being issued.”
New Windsor Man Sentenced to 4-12 Years in Prison For Dating Fraud
On July 31st, 2025 Bendetto was sentenced in Orange County Court to 4 to 12 years in prison.
He was ordered to pay $50,000 “in restitution relative to his previous guilty plea to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree.”
In a statement Orange County Sheriff Arteta said “With the sentencing now complete, justice has taken a decisive step.”
Sheriff Arteta added :
While no sentence can fully undo the damage caused, this outcome sends a clear message: financial exploitation—especially when built on trust—will be met with consequences.
District Attorney David M. Hoovler said “This defendant violated the trust of the victim and enriched himself at her expense. He continued:
“Cases like this one are incredibly difficult to investigate and I am grateful to Sheriff Paul Arteta, and the other police agencies who have joined the Joint White Collar Crimes Task Force for recognizing the substantial manpower and commitment necessary to pursue complicated financial fraud cases.
You can read the full statement below:
Scams Across New York State
It seems like every day there’s a new scam in New York State.
Now that you know to what look out for in the dating scam world, take a look below at some of the tips and tricks to keep yourself safe from scammers at all points.
From DMV scams to online shopping and text message scams, we got you covered below:
Tips To Not Get Scammed In New York
Police from the Hudson Valley offered tips on how all New Yorkers can avoid getting scammed.
New York DMV Issues Tips To Avoid Getting Scammed
Expert Tips for Avoiding Online Shopping Scams
In order to avoid a scammer getting the better of you, check out the following red flags to look out for as well as preventative measures to take from Dr. Skiba, AKA Dr. Fraud himself:
Gallery Credit: Maria Danise
Click Here For The Original Source.