A suspect has been arrested in connection with a computer scam that defrauded an elderly man out of $44,000 earlier this week, police announced on Thursday.
The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Rihua Liu of San Lorenzo, was taken into custody on Wednesday. Liu, who listed his occupation as an Uber driver in jail records, is facing multiple felony charges including grand theft, conspiracy to defraud, theft from an elder adult, and obtaining money under false pretenses. He is being held at Santa Rita Jail with bail set at $130,000 and is scheduled for arraignment on Friday.
Police indicated that more individuals were involved in the scam, but no additional arrests have been made at this time.
The scam unfolded on Monday when the victim, a man in his 80s, responded to a fraudulent pop-up window on his personal computer, prompting him to pay for an anti-virus program. According to police, the suspects gained remote access to the victim’s computer and manipulated him over the phone to authorize a series of fraudulent transactions, resulting in a $44,000 loss.
The victim realized he had been scammed and reported the incident to the police on Tuesday. Detectives from the Property Crimes and Crime Suppression Unit quickly followed leads and were able to track down Liu. He was arrested just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday in Castro Valley. A search warrant executed at his San Lorenzo residence uncovered evidence related to the scam as well as an unregistered firearm.
Police Lt. Abe Teng stated that there is no known connection between the victim and the suspects.
In a news release, police urged residents to remain vigilant against suspicious phone calls, text messages, emails, and other forms of electronic communication, emphasizing the importance of protecting personal information.