SAN LEANDRO, CA — A San Leandro woman was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with a series of financial scams targeting elderly victims throughout the Bay Area, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The investigation began in September 2024 after the sheriff’s office received a report involving a scam where an elderly victim was tricked into withdrawing large sums of money. According to authorities, the victim was led to believe their computer had a virus and was directed to contact what they thought was a legitimate service for assistance. The victim was then instructed to withdraw cash from their bank and hand it over to couriers who would come to their home.
Investigators were able to identify the suspect as Chen, a San Leandro resident, after connecting her to the scam. On November 13, 2024, law enforcement executed two search warrants at properties in San Leandro, where they recovered a large volume of U.S. currency and additional evidence linking Chen to the scam. The Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force assisted with digital forensics during the investigation.
Chen is believed to be involved in multiple similar financial scams that have occurred in the Bay Area over the past several months, authorities stated. She has been arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail on charges of grand theft and embezzlement of an elder adult. Bail has been set at $2.5 million.
The sheriff’s office highlighted that such schemes have become more common in recent years across the Bay Area. In a similar case last month, a 93-year-old Napa victim lost $20,000 in an email scam, with a courier reportedly picking up the cash. The suspect in that case allegedly admitted to working as a courier for various scam operations across the region.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious financial activities, especially those targeting vulnerable, elderly individuals.