The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of a suspect in connection to a fraud scheme. MCSO reports that a sophisticated fraud scheme targeted a county residence on July 12, 2024.

The scheme began when the victim opened an email that appeared to be from a well-known company. MCSO says the suspects identified themselves as “federal agents” and managed to convince the victim to provide his financial and personal identifying information.

The suspects told the victim that federal agents had reason to believe he had committed various crimes. The victim was told he needed to provide the “federal agents” with a large amount of cash to prove his innocence.

The suspects told the victim that the money would be used in an undercover operation to catch the real suspects. The suspects allegedly told the victim not to contact local law enforcement.

The victim cooperated and withdrew a large amount of money from the bank in hopes of clearing his name. One suspect arrived at the victim’s home posing as a federal agent to collect the money.

Later, the victim received a call from a suspect posing as a federal agent. The suspect demanded more money and threatened to arrest the victim if he did not cooperate. MCSO says a suspect, 34-year-old Yang Liu, allegedly drove to the victim’s home to collect the money.

MCSO detectives and patrol deputies arrested the suspect a short time after his arrival. Liu was booked into the Monterey County Jail on two counts of Theft by False Pretenses, two counts of Theft from Elders, and two counts of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.