News Summary
Jiaci Liu, a San Diego resident, has been sentenced to two years in prison for a fraudulent scheme that targeted senior citizens in California and Arizona. Liu’s scam resulted in losses of over $200,000 for his victims within a single week. Misleading pop-up messages led seniors to a fake tech support hotline, prompting them to withdraw large sums of cash. Local authorities reported a rising trend of such scams, leading to millions lost by seniors in recent years. The Elder Justice Task Force has been established to combat this issue and protect vulnerable citizens.
San Diego – Jiaci Liu, a resident of San Diego, was sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme that targeted senior citizens across California and Arizona. Liu’s actions resulted in a loss of over $200,000 for six victims within a single week.
Liu was arrested in June 2023 outside the home of a 63-year-old Poway resident after the victim received a pop-up on his computer warning of a virus and directing him to a fake tech support hotline. The scam misled victims into believing they had to withdraw significant amounts of cash to prevent unauthorized money transfers connected with the alleged virus.
The Poway victim, after being instructed to withdraw $28,000, grew suspicious when told that a U.S. Marshals Service representative would collect the money. This prompted the victim to contact law enforcement, which led to Liu’s arrest. Upon investigation, authorities discovered evidence on Liu’s phone confirming that he had defrauded five other elderly victims in the preceding week, whose ages ranged from their mid-70s to 83 years old, resulting in a total loss of at least $202,500.
Earlier this year, Liu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This case is a stark reminder of the growing threats that seniors face from financial scams. In just the first half of 2023, senior citizens in San Diego County reported losses of nearly $70 million due to such schemes, a figure that surpasses the total losses from the previous year, which amounted to more than $98 million. The FBI has also reported that $108 million was lost to elder fraud scams in San Diego County in 2024, with the average victim losing approximately $80,000.
To combat the rising incidence of these fraud cases, local authorities established the Elder Justice Task Force. This collective effort includes the District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement agencies, the FBI, and social services organizations. The task force aims to protect vulnerable seniors from scams that often involve unsolicited pop-up messages about device security or impersonation of bank representatives.
Unfortunately, the growing prevalence of scams targeting seniors continues to be a significant concern. Reports indicate that one senior lost $10,000 to a scam, highlighting the alarming trend of financial exploitation of older adults. Last year, over 1,300 seniors aged 60 and older reported being victims of scams in the San Diego region. The tactics used by fraudsters have become increasingly sophisticated, including overpayment scams and tech support frauds often initiated by criminals operating from overseas.
Criminals have also begun to employ more aggressive methods, such as sending couriers to collect money from scammed seniors. Despite the diligence of the Elder Justice Task Force, which has recovered approximately $9 million through its local initiatives, this amount represents only a small fraction of total estimated losses incurred by seniors in financial scams.
As local law enforcement agencies enhance collaboration to address these growing fraud concerns, it is crucial to recognize the significant emotional and financial distress these scams cause victims. Studies indicate that mortality rates for seniors subjected to fraud are three times higher than those not affected by such financial crimes.
In light of the increasing sophistication of scams targeting older adults, continued education and awareness efforts are essential to equip seniors and their families with the knowledge needed to recognize and combat these fraudulent schemes.
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Additional Resources
- CBS 8 News
- 10 News
- County News Center
- San Diego Union-Tribune
- Google Search: elder fraud scams San Diego
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
