A San Francisco man, Qi Lin, 39, has been arrested in connection with a scam that targeted an elderly woman, attempting to defraud her of $32,000. He faces charges including attempted grand theft, obtaining money by false pretense, conspiracy to commit a crime, and elder theft.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reported that the scam began on September 26 when the victim received a Microsoft Windows error message on her computer, which caused her screen to freeze and provided a number for “help.” Unbeknownst to her, this number was part of the scam. After calling, she was tricked into granting the scammer remote access to her computer.
The scammer falsely claimed that there were signs of criminal activity related to her computer and bank transactions, asserting that she could be held liable for this activity. The victim was subsequently transferred to individuals posing as a bank security officer and a federal agent, who convinced her to withdraw $32,000 to safeguard against the supposed criminal actions.
Fortunately, before handing over any money, the woman consulted her family, who urged her to contact authorities. After she reached out to the sheriff’s office, deputies monitored the situation from inside her home while she continued to communicate with the scammers. Lin arrived to collect the money and was arrested without incident.
Sheriff Shannan Moon emphasized the importance of awareness regarding scams, stating, “Most people don’t think they will fall victim to scams, but many of these scams are highly sophisticated and convincing.” She noted that a similar scam had occurred over the summer, resulting in another victim losing $12,000.
The sheriff urged individuals to check in with family and loved ones whenever urgent or time-sensitive financial requests arise and to always contact authorities if in doubt.