Irvine investigators are urging families to speak with their elderly loved ones about money scams that they say have gotten more elaborate.
The push to open these conversations comes after an 80-year-old man lost $25,000 to scammers, according to the Irvine Police Department. The victim was instructed to visit a Kohl’s department store in person to drop off the cash to a courier two weeks ago.
“You never think it’s going to happen to your family member,” said the victim’s son, who wished to keep his identity anonymous to protect his family’s privacy.
The victim’s son said he was unaware that his father had been conned out of $25,000 until it was too late.
“We get trained about this, because I work in technology, on a bi-monthly basis and stuff that we kind of take as common sense is new to the older generation,” he said.
According to investigators, the scammers told the victim that a hold would be placed on his bank account, adding that he was under investigation for criminal activity.
“After that phone call happened, he received a spoof phone call from a number that is from the Irvine Police Department’s department line and claimed to be the chief of police, telling him to cooperate with the ATF,” Irvine Police Public Information Officer Ziggy Azarcon said.
Police said that in addition to spoofing the department’s phone number, the scammers are searched online for the actual names of law enforcement officers to make the victim believe he was speaking to them.
“The victim withdrew $25,000 in cash, wrapped it up in a shoe box and then met with a courier at Kohl’s and handed that box over to them out of fear of being arrested,” Azarcon said.
Azarcon said legitimate law enforcement agencies will never call and threaten arrest if a fine isn’t paid. He said anyone who receives such a call should hang up, search online for the department’s phone number, call it and verify if they received a call from officers.