WINDSOR, Calif. – Sonoma County Sheriff’s detectives have arrested an Oakland man accused of posing as a federal courier in a cash scam that targeted residents in the Windsor area.
According to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, deputies had received several reports over the past few weeks about a scam in which victims were told their bank accounts had been compromised. The caller, posing as a government official, instructed victims to withdraw large sums of cash and hand them over to couriers who falsely claimed they were safeguarding the money for federal authorities.
In response, Property Crime Detectives coordinated a sting operation in Windsor to catch one of the couriers in action. When the suspect arrived and took possession of a package containing cash, detectives and Windsor Police Deputies quickly moved in and made an arrest. The suspect was identified as Zhengning Chen of Oakland.
Chen was booked into the Sonoma County Jail, where detectives obtained a bail enhancement of $250,000.
“The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind residents that no Government agency or Bank would ever contact you and ask for personal identifying information or money,” the department said in a statement. “This kind of crime has been on the rise for years and criminals continue to find new ways to exploit victims. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office remains dedicated and proactive in apprehending these criminals.”
Authorities urge residents to stay alert and report suspicious calls or requests involving cash withdrawals or personal information.