Pierce County Deputies Arrest Man in $14,800 Senior Scam
Pierce County sheriff’s deputies are alerting the community to an active scam network after a 71-year-old Ashford, Washington woman was swindled out of $14,800 in a sophisticated fraud scheme. Investigators say the woman was targeted by scammers posing as Microsoft and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) agents.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to probable cause documents, the victim received a pop-up message on her computer instructing her to call Microsoft for assistance. Once she called the number provided, the scammers convinced her that her computer had been hacked and that she was under investigation by the FDIC. The scammers ordered her to withdraw $14,800 from her bank account, telling her to claim it was for a home remodeling project.
She was then instructed to deposit the money into a Bitcoin machine at a local grocery store in Eatonville, Washington. However, the victim struggled with the process and was ultimately met by the scammer in person. “This was a very unique case,” said Deputy Carly Cappetto with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, noting that the scam involved direct in-person interaction.
Scammers’ Tactics and Escalation
The scammers went to great lengths to prevent the woman from alerting anyone, warning her that if she told her family, they would be investigated as well. Despite these threats, the scammers returned the next day demanding an additional $25,000. This time, the victim confided in her family, prompting them to involve law enforcement.
Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies set up a sting operation, catching the suspect when he arrived to collect the money. Investigators revealed that the scammers had instructed the victim to send pictures of the money, place it in a paper bag, and use the password “yellow” to confirm it was the correct person receiving the cash.
Arrest and Investigation
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Jingbing Xue, was arrested and charged with theft and attempted theft. During his court appearance, Xue pleaded not guilty and claimed not to know the victim. A judge set his bail at $250,000. Despite his arrest, investigators believe Xue is part of a larger scam syndicate and that more victims may be involved.
“We have a lot of evidence pointing to a bigger network,” said Deputy Cappetto. “We believe there are more victims out there,” she added, urging anyone who might have been targeted to come forward.