TULARE, California — A suspect has been arrested for defrauding an elderly man of $130,000, the Tulare Police Department reports. The suspect, Hailong He, was apprehended during a planned meeting at the victim’s home.
The investigation began on January 9, 2025, after the police were alerted to a potential scam involving an elderly male victim. The victim had already lost $130,000 and was being coerced into providing an additional $90,000. A concerned family member intervened and contacted authorities.
The suspects, posing as representatives of a “Trading Company,” had convinced the victim to invest money through a phone application, which officers suspect was fictitious. The victim believed he was earning money and continued making investments, initially via wire transfers. Due to his limited mobility, the suspects arranged to collect cash from his home on two separate occasions.
A third transaction was scheduled for January 10, 2025, during which the suspects claimed the victim needed to pay $90,000 to close his account and retrieve $990,000 that was supposedly owed to him. They told the victim that the money was required to pay fines for alleged illegal trading activities.
The Tulare Police Department’s Crimes Specific Unit conducted surveillance at the victim’s residence and arrested the suspect, 28-year-old Hailong He, when he arrived to collect the money. He, who provided an address in Canada, faces charges of Financial Elder Abuse, Theft Under False Pretenses, and Grand Theft.
In light of the incident, the Tulare Police Department encourages residents to talk to their loved ones about potential scams to prevent similar occurrences.
