The Placer County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Investigations Unit, alongside the Placer Special Investigations Unit, arrested 36-year-old Yunming Fan from San Gabriel, California, on June 10. He faces charges of conspiracy and theft by false pretenses related to a scam targeting an elderly victim in Auburn.
The victim was contacted online and misled into believing she owed a significant sum due to a supposed error with an online payment application. Following the instructions of the scammer, she withdrew cash and handed it over to a courier who came to her home. After initially providing a small amount of money, the victim recognized the situation as a scam and promptly reported it to the PCSO.
Detectives orchestrated a phone call with the suspect, during which he demanded tens of thousands of dollars. Fan later visited the victim’s residence in an attempt to collect the remaining funds. He was apprehended shortly after leaving the scene and charged with two felonies.
Investigators suspect that Fan or his accomplices may have been involved in similar cash pickup scams in the area. The PCSO is urging other potential victims to review Fan’s photograph to determine if he is connected to their cases. He is known to drive a silver Honda Accord sedan. The PCSO emphasizes its commitment to safeguarding senior citizens and will continue efforts to prevent and investigate scams and fraud.
