One arrested, $15,000 recovered in Bay Area elder fraud scams: PD

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — This week, the Morgan Hill Police Department recovered $15,000 from one elder fraud case and arrested a suspect accused of defrauding another elderly resident out of $30,000.

Both cases were reported on July 23 and were resolved before the weekend, according to the Morgan Hill Police Department. The first case involved an elderly Morgan Hill resident who was fooled by a pop-up message saying their computer was hacked.

“The message instructed the victim to send money to ‘fix the issue,’” MHPD said. “Over several transactions, the victim sent nearly $30,000 — including a $20,000 cash handoff during an in-person meeting.”

After realizing they were scammed, the victim contacted police. MHPD detectives worked with the victim to arrange a follow-up meeting with the suspect. On July 24, the suspect was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for multiple felony charges, including criminal conspiracy, elder abuse and theft by false pretenses.

MHPD received a second call about an elder abuse scam on July 23. The victim allegedly received a phone call from someone posing as an FBI agent.

“The caller claimed the victim was under investigation and instructed them to withdraw $24,000 from multiple local banks and ship a portion of it — $15,000 — to an out-of-state address,” MHPD said.

After sending the money, the victim became suspicious and contacted MHPD. Officers contacted the shipping company hired to deliver the $15,000 and the money was intercepted before it reached the scammers, police said.

“Scammers frequently impersonate legitimate government agencies and use fear and urgency to manipulate victims into sending money,” MHPD said. “Government agencies will never demand money via phone, email, or shipping. Never share personal or financial information with unsolicited callers or messages. If it feels suspicious, it probably is. Trust your instincts and check with a family member or law enforcement.”

The police department is encouraging people to talk to their elderly loved ones about these types of scams to prevent future victims.