A California senior handed $14,000 in cash to a woman who arrived at her home with a password after scammers convinced her that she was under investigation for money laundering.
The operation began when the Thousand Oaks resident clicked a link while deleting spam emails.
A message appeared telling her not to turn off her computer and directing her to call a displayed telephone number.
Yongan Ma, 44, now faces three felony charges for allegedly driving the unidentified courier to the victim’s home and benefiting from his role in the scheme.
A Computer Warning Led to a Fake FTC Officer
The victim clicked a link on April 2 and immediately saw a message warning her not to shut down her computer, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
When she called the number on the screen, an unidentified person claimed that her computer contained malware. The call was then transferred to someone posing as an officer with the Federal Trade Commission.
The supposed officer told the woman that she was a suspect in a money-laundering investigation and needed to withdraw money from her accounts. She was instructed to keep the withdrawal receipts as proof that the cash belonged to her. The caller also claimed that the U.S. Treasury Department was involved and would freeze her bank accounts unless she complied.
The Caller Said Two People Were Watching Her Home
The scammer remained on the telephone while directing the woman to visit multiple banks and withdraw $15,000. As she drove, the caller claimed that two people were watching her home.
The woman ultimately withdrew $14,000 and returned home. She was told to place the cash inside a package and wait for someone named “Lisa.” The courier would provide a password, the caller explained, and the victim was to hand over the money only after hearing the correct phrase.
At approximately 3 p.m., an unidentified woman arrived at the Thousand Oaks home and supplied the agreed-upon password. The victim then surrendered the package containing $14,000. The following day, the victim concluded that she had probably been deceived and told a family member, who contacted law enforcement.
Investigators Say Ma Drove the Courier to the House
Ventura County sheriff’s detectives later determined that Ma allegedly transported the female courier to the victim’s home. Prosecutors accuse him of dropping her off before she supplied the password and collected the cash.
They further allege that he knowingly provided the transportation to carry out the fraud and personally benefited from his participation. Detectives arrested Ma in Pasadena on July 22.
Ma Pleaded Not Guilty to Three Felony Charges
Ma is charged with conspiracy to commit grand theft, conspiracy to commit theft from an elder or dependent adult and theft from an elder or dependent adult. Prosecutors also alleged that the victim was particularly vulnerable and that the crime demonstrated planning, sophistication and professionalism.
Ma pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance on July 24. The judge released him on his own recognizance over the prosecutor’s objection. An early disposition conference is scheduled for Aug. 4 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 12 of Ventura County Superior Court. The charges and special allegations have not been proven.
The FTC Never Sends Couriers to Collect Cash
The Federal Trade Commission says it will never threaten someone, order a person to withdraw savings or send someone to collect cash or gold.
Real security warnings from technology companies also do not instruct computer users to call a telephone number displayed in a pop-up. A person who sees such a warning should not call the number or click additional buttons. The browser can be closed, and the device’s legitimate security software can be updated and used to run a scan.
If a stranger was given remote access, the computer should be disconnected from the internet until the remote-access software can be removed. Passwords for email, banking and other sensitive accounts should be changed from a separate trusted device.
Someone already instructed to withdraw cash should tell the bank employee that the request followed a supposed government investigation. The transaction should be paused while the claimed agency is contacted through a number independently obtained from its official website.
Ventura County residents who believe they or a relative encountered a similar operation can contact District Attorney Investigator Eric Jensen at 805-662-1750. The District Attorney’s Office identified urgency, fear, secrecy, unusual payment methods and isolation from family or banks as central warning signs.