SAN LEANDRO — A suspect has been arrested after a man in his 80s was defrauded of $44,000 in a computer scam earlier this week, police said Thursday.
Police identified the suspect as Rihua Liu, 36, of San Lorenzo, who was arrested Wednesday.
Liu, who listed his occupation in jail records as Uber driver, was booked at Santa Rita Jail on felony charges of grand theft of money, conspiracy to defraud, theft from an elder adult, and obtaining money under false pretenses. He was being held in lieu of $130,000 bail and was scheduled to be arraigned Friday.
Police indicated more suspects were involved but no other arrests were announced.
Police said that the expensive scam happened Monday when the victim responded to a fraudulent pop-up window on his personal computer to pay an invoice on an anti-virus program. Police did not say when the victim first responded.
Police that “through a series of fraudulent transactions prompted by the suspects via remote access to the victim’s computer and over the phone, the victim was defrauded of $44,000.”
The victim eventually realized he had been scammed and reported the crime to police on Tuesday.
Detectives in the Property Crimes, Crime Suppression Unit were able to follow leads and track down Liu, police said.
He was arrested just before 3 p.m. Wednesday in Castro Valley, and a search warrant was later executed at his residence in San Lorenzo, police said. The search warrant yielded evidence related to the scam and an unregistered firearm.
Police Lt. Abe Teng said there is no known connection between the victim and the suspects.
Police in a news release reminded residents to be vigilant toward suspicious phone calls, text messages, e-mails and other electronic communication.
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