Calif. man guilty of high-tech fraud try on 92-year-old Pelham woman

CONCORD - A Hillsborough County jury has found a California man guilty for attempting to defraud a 92-year-old Pelham woman of $50,000 in a pop-up tech scam.

Yalei Li, a resident of Rosemead, Calif., was found guilty on Friday of attempted theft by deception after a two-day trial.

Evidence in the plot established that Li went to the home of a 92-year-old resident of Pelham late in the evening of April 8, 2025, with the purpose of taking $50,000 in cash from her in furtherance of a well-orchestrated tech support scam initiated by a malicious pop-up alert on her computer. The victim was led to believe that her bank accounts had been compromised and that she needed to give money to an agent of her bank to keep her money safe.

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 7 ½ - 15 years in the New Hampshire State Prison and a $4,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 10, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

This case was investigated by the Pelham Police Department. Assistant Attorneys General Nancy DeAngelis and Amanda Purcell prosecuted the case, assisted by paralegal Rachelle Simon and victim witness advocate Rose Lamerand.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation, please contact your local police department or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Adult and Aging Services at nheasy.nh.gov. Please also visit our website for information about reporting and protecting yourself from scams at: doj.nh.gov/citizens/elder-abuse-and-financial-exploitation-unit.