A 53-year-old man from El Monte, Quan Lin, was arrested by Redlands police on charges of scamming a 73-year-old local resident out of $25,000 and attempting to defraud him of an additional $35,000 the following day.
Authorities say Lin posed as an FBI agent, falsely accusing the victim of child pornography charges and threatening him with arrest unless he paid large sums of money.
The scam began on Monday, March 17, when the victim received a phone call from a person pretending to be a federal agent. The caller instructed the victim to withdraw $25,000 from his bank, place it in an envelope, and wait for a courier to pick it up. Fearing arrest, the victim complied with the instructions.
The scheme escalated the following day, with a second call demanding an additional $35,000. This time, the victim became suspicious and contacted the Redlands Police Department.
Detectives, assisted by the Community Engagement Team, worked with the victim to intercept Lin before he could collect the second payment. Lin was arrested when he arrived at the victim’s home and is now being held at the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino on a $250,000 bail. He faces charges including elder fraud, grand theft, and theft by false pretenses.
Investigators believe Lin may be involved in similar scams targeting elderly victims in other communities. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to reach out to Detective Eric Strobaugh at estrobaugh@redlandspolice.org or call Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.
The FBI reports that every year, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to financial fraud. Law enforcement officials remind the public that legitimate agencies will never demand payment to avoid arrest and advise caution when receiving unsolicited calls or requests for money, gift cards, or valuables.
