**West Covina Man Conned Elderly Couple, Faces Prison Time**
In a bizarre twist of events, a West Covina man has found himself in hot water for allegedly swindling an unsuspecting elderly couple out of a hefty sum.
Cyberattack and Microsoft Masquerade
Tai Su, 48, allegedly orchestrated a cunning cyberattack that opened the door to his deceit. The elderly victims, hailing from Encino, innocently opened an email, clicking on a link that unleashed malware that took over their computer, displaying a phone number that was supposed to belong to Microsoft support.
Fraudulent Federal Agents and Empty Promises
As the victims dialed the bogus number, they were connected to an individual who played the role of a Microsoft employee. With a fabricated story of a hacking incident and threats to the victims’ banking information, the scammer convinced the couple to withdraw a staggering ,000 in现金.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the victims were led to believe that they were speaking with a fraud investigator from City National Bank. This fake investigator instructed them to hand over the cash to federal agents who would supposedly visit their home.
Later that day, two individuals claiming to be federal agents showed up at the victims’ doorstep, sporting fabricated badges. They promptly took possession of the money.
Rinse and Repeat: More Demands
Unbelievably, the scam didn’t end there. Over the next two days, Su and his accomplices relentlessly pressured the elderly couple, demanding an additional ,000.
Federal Sting Operation and Su’s Arrest
The FBI soon caught wind of the scam and devised a clever sting operation. On April 26th, Homeland Security Investigators thoroughly briefed the victims and provided instructions for dealing with the relentless calls from the con artists.
Posing as the victims, the investigators agreed to pay the suspects ,000. Desperate to hide their ill-gotten gains, the defendants opted for a virtual wallet deposit at a faraway location. However, the victims cunningly arranged for another “federal agent” to collect the money from their home.
When Su arrived, he identified himself as a Coinbase employee, a popular cryptocurrency platform. With his attempt to flee the scene foiled by federal agents, Su was apprehended, clutching thousands of dollars in large bills.
Swift Justice
Tai Su now faces serious charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars in a federal prison.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the malicious schemes that can target vulnerable individuals. It also highlights the importance of remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities to law enforcement. The elderly couple in this case showed remarkable resilience in the face of adversity, and now justice is within reach.
Data sourced from: ktla.com
