A 70-year-old California man got a call from someone claiming to work for “McAfee Security.” Days later, deputies said, he withdrew $84,000 in cash and handed it to a man he believed was connected to the company.
The Camarillo victim was told his bank account information may have been compromised, according to Edhat, which republished a Ventura County Sheriff’s Office release. The caller also shared accurate bank information, making the warning sound real, authorities said.
Investigators identified the man who collected the cash as Binchao Cen, 44, of Rosemead. KEYT reported that the victim was given a verbal security code and shared it with the man before turning over the money.
Cen was booked on charges of theft by false pretenses, grand theft, and theft from an elder adult. Bail was set at $500,000. The charges are accusations and have not been proven in court.
The Caller Used Real Bank Details, Deputies Said
The case began in May, when patrol deputies from the Camarillo Police Station responded to a theft report in Camarillo. The victim told authorities he had received a call from an unknown person who claimed to work for “McAfee Security.”
The caller said the victim’s bank account information may have been compromised. Deputies said the caller provided enough accurate bank information to appear legitimate, then spent several days convincing the victim to withdraw $84,000.
The victim was told to meet with a supposed “McAfee Security” employee and provide a verbal security code before handing over the money. Authorities said the victim later met with Cen and turned over the cash.
Several days later, the victim realized he had been scammed and reported the case to the Camarillo Police Department.
Detectives Stopped the Suspect Before Another Possible Meeting
The investigation moved forward on June 30, when detectives contacted Cen while he was driving to meet what they believed was another potential scam victim, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office release.
Detectives intervened and arrested him before that meeting took place. Authorities said Cen had a large amount of cash and a modified airsoft handgun when he was contacted.
Detectives later executed a search warrant at a residence in the 3000 block of Muscatel Avenue in Rosemead. The public release did not say whether the Camarillo victim’s $84,000 was fully recovered.
Fake Tech-Support Calls Often Borrow Trusted Company Names
The caller in the Camarillo case used the name of a real cybersecurity company. The Federal Trade Commission warns that tech-support scammers often claim there is a problem with a computer, account, or security software to scare people into paying money or sharing information.
The FBI says tech-support scammers may impersonate virus software companies, banking services, online shopping sites, utility companies, security services, and other familiar businesses.
McAfee’s scam-awareness page says cybercriminals impersonate trusted companies to steal information. The company tells customers to log in directly to their accounts to view genuine messages and to report suspicious messages using the McAfee brand.
A Cash Pickup Is the Warning Sign
No real cybersecurity company needs a customer to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars in cash and hand it to a person in public.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has warned about scammers telling victims, many of them seniors, to turn assets into cash or precious metals before sending couriers to collect the money. The FBI said that pattern produced more than $55 million in reported losses from May through December 2023.
The Camarillo case followed the same pattern deputies warn about in elder scams: a trusted name, a frightening account-security claim, pressure over several days, a code word, and an in-person cash pickup.
Anyone who gets a call claiming a bank account, computer, or security software account is compromised should end the call and contact the bank, company, or police through a verified number. If a caller is arranging a cash pickup, call local law enforcement before leaving the house or meeting anyone.
Camarillo police can be reached at 805-388-5100. Victims can also report cyber-enabled scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov and report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
