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“The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is asking the community to be alert due to an increase in online and phone fraud incidents where suspects are coming to victims’ homes to collect money. The incidents, targeting senior citizens, have resulted in $97,000 lost. One arrest has been made.
The most recent incident was reported on August 1st, 2024, where our victim lost $40,000.
Since May of 2024, our office has received multiple reports of incidents in which victims, all senior citizens, received fraudulent messages. In all cases, victims began speaking with an individual who identified themselves as being an employee of the Federal Trade Commission or their personal bank.
Victims were instructed to go to their bank and withdraw sums of money ranging from $10,000 to $40,000. The suspects instructed victims to go to multiple bank branches to withdraw money to not raise suspicion of fraud activity to bank employees. They were then instructed to wait for a person to come to their residence. In all four reported incidents, a person arrived at the victim’s residence and picked up the money and got away.
On July 16th, 2024, Detectives and Deputies were able to coordinate efforts and respond to a victim’s home. The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Yang Liu of Alhambra, California, was arrested when he met with the victim and collected a package. He was booked into Monterey County Jail on multiple felony charges.
We are asking our community to speak with older parents, family members, and friends who may be a target of this type of crime. Fraud suspects will tell you not to notify law enforcement and to not hang up the phone. DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM. Hang up and call law enforcement to report the incident. Always call your bank or financial institution directly at published numbers.
Do not call numbers provided by text message, pop-up message or email. If you find yourself speaking to a suspected fraud suspect, ask them if you can notify law enforcement before speaking to them. If they say no, HANG UP IMMEDIATELY. No reputable bank will ever tell you not to speak to law enforcement.”
