⏱ 3 min read
A staggering $65 million elderly fraud ring has been dismantled, with the first defendant, Chinese national Ziyue Zhao, pleading guilty in federal court. The scam targeted thousands of seniors across the United States, including a 97-year-old San Diego widow of a Holocaust survivor who lost her entire life savings.
The brazen scheme, operating since at least 2019, involved India-based scam call centers posing as technical support agents, government officials, or bank employees. Victims received unsolicited calls or emails directing them to call these centers, where scammers used scripted lies and psychological manipulation to gain their trust.
Once in, the scammers would convince victims they had received a mistaken refund and pressure them to return the supposed excess funds via wire transfer, cash, or gift cards. Packages were sent to short-term rentals in the U.S. used by conspirators to collect the fraud proceeds.
Zhao’s plea agreement revealed that the conspiracy booked short-term rentals in a hub-and-spoke pattern to facilitate receipt of victim packages. The indictment includes 27 other defendants, with the takedown occurring in August 2025.
Related Federal Cases
- McKenzie Marie Earley, $10M Wire Fraud, C.D. California, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Bruce Choi, COVID-19 Relief Fraud, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Irina Segal, Medicare Fraud, Philadelphia PA, 2023 · New Jersey
- Frank Hamilton Sentenced to 5.5 Years for SBA Scam, California, 2023 · Texas
- Amy Evangelista, Tax Return Fraud, Lathrop CA, 2023 · California
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: California
- Location: CA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
