FOREIGN-BASED SCAMMERS ARRESTED FOR BILKING SENIORS

East County News Service

August 2, 2024 (San Diego) – The U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego announces the arrest of five Chinese nationals accused of participating in a fraud and money laundering scheme that bilked more than 2,000 seniors out of over $27 million.

The five defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly ran a multinational organized fraud ring targeting elderly victims across the U.S. from 2021 through June 2024. Conspirators contacted victims through pop-up ads, emails and phone calls to con victims into contacting scam call centers in India, the indictment indicates. Conspirators worked to build trust with victims, and in many cases, had victims install remote desktop software that they used to gain access to victims’ computers, accordingto prosecutors.

The scammers allegedly adopted a number of guises – posing as technical support, government and bank workers – to induce victims to send money to other conspirators, including the five defendants charged in the indictment.

At the direction of conspirators, according to court documents, victims sent wire transfers or cash in express mail packages to locations in Southern California, Nevada and elsewhere.

The defendants provided fake names and addresses corresponding with retailers, including CVS Pharmacy locations, where they picked up packages, allegedly using fake IDs.

The San Diego Elder Justice Task Force investigated the case. Its member agencies include the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department and the California Highway Patrol.

During a coordinated law enforcement operation Wednesday in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, about 60 federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested four defendants – Zhao Wang, 40, of Henderson, Nev.; Jiandong Chen, 40, of Pomona; Jun Li, 40, of West Covina, and Xin Wang. 36, of San Gabriel – while searching their homes.

The fifth defendant, Youfei Gong, 29, arrested on April 9 in San Gabriel, is being held on state charges.

One defendant, Xin Wang, allegedly sent a text reading, “What I do is picking up packages from CVS. Contain cash. Laundering money for Indian scam syndicate. Large syndicate. My bosses launder over one million US dollars in a week.”

The defendants face conspiracy charges relating to mail and wire fraud and money laundering.

“Every day swindlers entangle unsuspecting seniors into scams to steal their hard-earned savings,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “We urge everyone to use caution and consult with others before sending money to strangers they know only through phone calls, texts, or a computer.”

Stacey Moy, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI’s San Diego Field Office, says, “The FBI remains resolute in our commitment to disrupt and dismantle foreign-based fraud schemes that prey on our older Americans. “We will continue to work side by side with our law enforcement partners to deter and defeat organized fraud rings, no matter where they are located.”

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.