Case number: NPD24004556 from the Napa Police Department
Event Time and date: October 27, 2024 Event
The place is Napa, CA.
Case Type: Abuse and fraud against older people
Person 1: An adult man from Napa, California, who is 93 years old
Suspect #1: Zhi Rong Deng, 28 years old, from San Jose; no longer in prison
The felony charge is 532 PC, which means “Get money by false pretenses.” 368 PC: Abuse of an Elderly Person 664/487 PC: Attempt to Theft a Grand Booked Date: October 28, 2024, at 3:14 p.m. Date: October 28, 2024, 7:20 p.m.
Background: Around 10 a.m. on October 27, 24; a 93-year-old man from Napa said he had gotten an email telling him to call a number connected to a PayPal transaction. He called the number and was forced to give details that would be used to identify him.
He was then told he had been paid more than $30,000 and told to take cash out of his bank account, put it in a box, and a driver would come get it.
The victim took $20,000 out of his bank account and gave it to an Asian adult male who showed up at his house in a box.
He told the messenger that he would get the last $10,000 by Monday, October 28th, 24 hours, and that they would set up a time to pick it up.
The event was reported to Napa Police patrol officers, who then told agents in the Investigations unit about it. The victim set up a pick-up for the last $10,000 on 10/28/24 with the help of trained agents.
The target was given a password that the courier would give them so that the package could be switched. There were detectives from the Napa Police Department waiting for the courier.
At 11:47 AM, the courier was arrested at the meet location after being called by detectives. Police recognized the suspect as Zhi Deng and learned that he was from New York. He was sent to California as a messenger to get money from scammed old people.
He was a messenger who worked all over the Bay Area and knew there were others like him there. Deng was caught and put into the Napa County Detention Center on the felony charges above.
He paid his bail the same day. In this case, someone was arrested, but the victim was still forced to give away $20,000 that was never returned.
To protect our elderly people from scams, we suggest the following:
• Be careful of calls you did not ask for. The salesperson may have found your number on a mailing list if you did not call them.
• Do not give out private information. For example, do not give out your Social Security number, bank account information, credit card numbers, PINs, or passwords over the phone, in emails, or through text messages.
• Be wary of offers that make you decide right away; do not feel rushed into buying something. It is likely a scam even if they ask for a gift card.
• Be careful when you shop online. Do not click on links that look sketchy or give out personal information online.
• Make sure agents and companies are licensed. Before you buy insurance, call to make sure the agent and company are licensed.
• Keep the security software on your computer and phone up to date and use multifactor login to keep your online accounts safe.
• Look at your bills. Look over your bills for charges you did not make, and call the company if you find any.
• Talk to someone you trust. If you are not sure about something, call someone you trust or your bank.
• Stop scammers from calling: Put your phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry to stop crooks from calling.
• Call Adult Protective Services: If you think an older person is being abused or scammed, call the Adult Protective Services (APS) office in your state.