A 93-year-old resident of Napa was defrauded of $20,000 in an email scam targeting elderly individuals across the San Francisco Bay Area, as reported by the Napa Police Department.
The scam began on October 27 when the elderly resident received an email instructing him to call a number concerning a PayPal transaction. Upon contacting the number, he was falsely informed of a $30,000 overpayment and was advised to withdraw cash from his bank. He was instructed to place the cash in a box, which a courier would collect.
The victim managed to withdraw $20,000 in cash, which he handed over to a man who arrived at his home. He informed the courier that he would have the remaining $10,000 ready by the next day, with another pickup scheduled.
Napa PD detectives received a report of the incident and located the courier on October 28 just before the scheduled pickup. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Zhi Deng from San Jose, was arrested at the scene.
Deng, originally from New York, informed police that he was sent to California to work as a courier, collecting money from elderly scam victims. Napa PD noted that Deng admitted to working throughout the Bay Area and was aware of other couriers involved in similar scams.
Deng was booked at the Napa County Detention Center on charges of obtaining money by false pretenses, elder abuse, and attempted grand theft. He posted bail four hours after his arrest.
The $20,000 in cash lost by the victim has not been recovered.