California man arrested in connection to fraud scheme aimed at Whatcom County resident

A California man was arrested for his involvement in a fraud scheme that bilked a Whatcom County resident out of over $100,000. The victim received a call in mid-April from an impersonator claiming to be an officer with the Inspector General, who alleged an investigation into money laundering and drug trafficking. Following this, the victim was instructed by a fake federal agent, who showed a counterfeit badge, to deposit cash into a federal reserve in Seattle for safekeeping. Over the course of a month, the scammer sent individuals to collect cash and gold from the victim three times. The suspect was arrested during a fourth pickup attempt, which involved a coordinated response from various law enforcement agencies.

The 55-year-old man, currently held on $500,000 bail, is believed to be part of a nationwide fraud operation targeting seniors. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of fraud schemes that exploit vulnerable individuals, prompting local authorities to remind the public about the importance of verifying the legitimacy of such calls. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office reassures the community that law enforcement will never request funds or valuables directly from citizens.