Latest news with #ZianHu
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Suspects impersonating FBI agents in elder scam arrested
MARIN COUNTY, Calif. - Authorities in Marin County have arrested two people whom they said impersonated FBI agents to scam senior citizens out of thousands in cash. The backstory The Marin County Sheriff's Office first learned about the scam on Feb. 18 when an elderly resident told deputies they were the victim of fraud by suspects alleging to be FBI agents. The suspects called the victim and said there was an active fraud investigation into their bank account, and that the only way to protect their money was to withdraw it and deposit it into a "safe federal bank account" through a courier. The victim only became suspicious when the fake FBI agents later tried to convince them to buy gold and give it to a courier. The victim complied. The victim then contacted a real FBI agent, who told them he was being scammed and to call the Marin County Sheriff's Office, their local law enforcement. Dig deeper The victim told deputies the courier who picked up $25,000 in cash was an Asian male, officials said. On May 8, San Francisco man Zian Hu was arrested at a home in Daly City on grand theft, elder abuse, and conspiracy charges. The 38-year-old suspect remains in the Marin County Jail on a $1 million bail, according to jail records. Officials said the bail enhancement was requested and granted because Marin County sheriff detectives believe Hu has a "connection with a larger criminal enterprise," and "access to illegally obtained cash." The second suspect, identified as 24-year-old Balraj Singh, was arrested Monday in San Rafael. Officials alleged the Torrance resident was involved in a similar "cash courier pick-up scam" and went to a home to pick up $50,000 in cash but was stopped by law enforcement before doing so. Singh is facing attempted grand theft charges, attempted elder abuse, and conspiracy. A bail enhancement was requested and granted for similar reasons to Hu's, and Singh was denied bail. He remains in the Marin County Jail, according to jail records. What we don't know Officials said it's unclear at this time if the pair were working together and said that at this time, there is no confirmed link between Hu and Singh. What you can do Officials are reminding residents that there is no legitimate situation where a company or law enforcement would request cash through a courier. "There is no reason to withdraw funds or purchase gift cards and provide them to unknown individuals," the Marin County Sheriff's Office said. "If you receive an email from a company that seems suspicious regarding a transaction, do not use the numbers provided on the email. Look up the company's phone number on their website." Fraud can occur from emails, texts, and phone calls, and if you are unsure if the messages from a business are real, ask a friend, family member, or call your local law enforcement agency, officials remind.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
MCSO: SF man stole $25K from elderly Marin County resident in fake FBI agent scheme
(KRON) — A San Francisco man with ties to a large criminal organization helped scam an elderly Marin County resident out of $25,000, the Marin County Sheriff's Office said. In February, someone impersonating the FBI allegedly contacted the elderly resident over the phone, claiming that there was an active investigation involving the victim's bank account. During the conversation, the person allegedly talked the victim into withdrawing the money and having it deposited into a ''safe Federal bank account' via courier,' the Marin County Sheriff's Office said. Tangled bear cub rescued from soccer net at Lake Tahoe After the victim withdrew $25,000, 38-year-old Zian Hu of San Francisco allegedly showed up at the victim's house and collected the money. 'The fake FBI agents then attempted to convince the resident to purchase gold and provide it to a courier,' the MCSO said. 'At that point, the resident became suspicious and contacted a real FBI agent. The real FBI agent informed the resident that they were being scammed and directed them to contact local law enforcement.' The MCSO identified Hu as a suspect in the case and arrested him at a home in Daly City. Hu was booked into the Marin County Jail on felony charges of grand theft, elder abuse and conspiracy. 'Based on Hu's connection with a larger criminal enterprise, Detectives believe Hu has access to large amounts of illegally obtained cash,' the MCSO said. 'A bail enhancement from $50,000 to $1 million was requested and granted.' On May 12, MCSO detectives arrested 24-year-old Balraj Singh of Torrance for allegedly running a similar scam. 'Singh went to a victim's residence to pick up $50,000 in cash but was contacted by law enforcement before completing the theft,' the MCSO said. 'Singh was arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail for attempted grand theft, attempted elder abuse, and conspiracy.' Singh is also allegedly connected to a larger criminal organization and has access to large amounts of illegally obtained cash. Based on these accusations, Singh was denied bail. MCSO detectives are looking for possible accomplices in both cases. There is no confirmed connection between the cases at this time. 'The Marin County Sheriff's Office continues to notice an increase in scams targeting our elderly residents,' the MCSO said. 'While the specifics of each scam often varies, they often involve suspects arranging for couriers to pick up cash and/or gold.' $10M winning Scratcher ticket sold at Concord liquor store There is no legitimate situation where a company or law enforcement agent will request delivery of cash/currency by courier. There is no reason to withdraw funds or purchase gift cards and provide them to unknown individuals. If you receive an email from a company that seems suspicious regarding a transaction, do not use the numbers provided on the email. Look up the company's phone number on their website. Fraudulent/suspicious activity can come from emails, text messages, and phone calls. If you are not sure if the correspondence from a business is legitimate, ask a friend, family member, or call your local law enforcement agency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
