On November 15, an Ellensburg couple was targeted in a sophisticated phone scam, which led to a significant financial loss. The scam began with a call from a woman claiming to be an FBI agent. The fraudster accused the couple of cybercrime and used detailed personal information to make the threat appear genuine. Fearing an imminent arrest, the couple was coerced into complying with the scammer’s demands, eventually handing over a large sum of cash to a person who showed up at their home.
The next day, the scammer called again, demanding even more money. This time, the couple contacted the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, who quickly devised a plan to catch the perpetrators. Deputies worked with the victims to prepare another cash delivery, while law enforcement set up a sting operation.
When two men, Wentao Qu and Lutao Tian, arrived to collect the money, they were immediately arrested. Both suspects are believed to be foreign nationals from China. The woman who initially made contact with the victims is still unidentified, but she is described as Asian.
Both men appeared in Superior Court on November 20 and are currently being held on $1,000,000 bail. The Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning to the public about the increasing prevalence of such scams, urging vigilance and reporting any suspicious activity immediately.