A 70-year-old retiree from Carlsbad, California, was scammed out of $1.49 million by a multinational fraud conspiracy led by Xilin Sun, 28, who made his first appearance in federal court today to face charges.
According to the complaint, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force learned of the fraud scheme after the victim reported to Carlsbad police that she was duped over a period of months by fraudsters posing as government, bank, and tech-support employees.
The victim claimed she was using her computer when a pop-up window appeared, advising her to call for help because her computer had been hacked. When she made the call, she was transferred through a series of co-conspirators pretending to work in tech support who told her to download software on her computer.
The complaint further describes how once the scammers discovered the victim had substantial savings, they convinced her she could safeguard her funds by obtaining gold bars and sending them to the U.S. treasury, which would create a locker under her name. Over the course of two months, the victim sent approximately $1.335 million via three separate wire transfers to a precious metal business located in San Marcos, California.
“If you think you may have been scammed, report it immediately,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These schemes are organized by sophisticated global networks with the ability to fool even the most savvy computer users. But if victims report quickly, we have a better chance of catching the scammers and retrieving stolen money.”
“Thousands of people fall victim to elder fraud every year. Many do not report the fraud because they are embarrassed or afraid; however, the best course of action is to report scams as early as possible,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John Kim.
This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, and Carlsbad Police Department.
Xilin Sun is facing charges related to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. He is scheduled to remain in custody pending further proceedings.
The San Diego Elder Justice Task Force is dedicated to relentlessly pursuing criminals who prey on innocent individuals for personal gain.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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