CARLSBAD, Calif. – The Carlsbad Police Department, in collaboration with the FBI’s Elder Justice Task Force and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, has arrested two suspects in separate but similar elder fraud cases involving the theft of more than $140,000 in cash and gold bullion.
On March 24, 2025, a Carlsbad resident fell victim to an elaborate scam after a fake computer pop-up prompted her to call a number linked to individuals impersonating Apple Security and Wells Fargo’s Fraud Unit. The scammers falsely claimed her identity had been compromised and persuaded her to withdraw and surrender cash and gold under the pretense of protecting her assets.
Over several days, the victim was instructed to place the money in taped shoeboxes and hand them to someone posing as a federal courier. The fraud resulted in a loss of approximately $121,156. The victim later informed her grandson, who helped her report the crime to police.
On April 3, 2025, detectives arrested Tang Chen, 37, of Ontario, California, during a planned pickup at the victim’s residence. Chen was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on felony charges of:
• Penal Code 368(d)(1) – Theft from an elder or dependent adult
• Penal Code 532(a) – Obtaining money by false pretenses
• Penal Code 182(a)(1) – Conspiracy to commit a crime
In a separate case on April 29, 2025, another Carlsbad resident received a phone call from a man identifying himself as a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigator named “Jack Brown.” The caller convinced the victim her identity had been stolen and instructed her to provide $10,000 in cash to assist with the investigation and secure an “American Depository Receipt.”
The victim, believing the documents and the story to be legitimate, withdrew the funds and handed them to an individual posing as an FTC courier at her home. On May 1, while detectives were conducting a follow-up interview, the scammer called again requesting an additional $10,000.
Under police guidance, the victim pretended to comply. Detectives prepared an envelope filled with fake $100 bills, which was picked up later that day by Gurjant Singh, 33, of Riverside County. Officers followed Singh after the pickup and detained him on the I-5 freeway. The envelope was recovered from his vehicle. Singh was booked on the same felony charges as Chen.
Both cases remain under investigation. The Carlsbad Police Department reminds community members that no legitimate agency will ever request cash, gold, or personal assets to be handed over to a courier. Residents are encouraged to verify suspicious claims with a trusted family member or local law enforcement before taking action.
According to the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, scams like these result in over $100 million in losses annually, affecting more than a thousand seniors in the region. If you have been a victim of fraud or a scam, report it immediately to your local law enforcement agency and to the FBI at www.IC3.gov. If you believe a loved one may be experiencing fraud or any form of elder abuse, contact Adult Protective Services at 1-800-339-4661.
For more information
Lieutenant Alonso DeVelasco, 442-339-5578 or alonso.develasco@carlsbadca.gov
