The scam exploited the victim’s strong sense of duty and trust in authority. Posing as federal law enforcement officers, the perpetrators convinced him that his computer had been compromised and used for illegal activities. They presented convincing “evidence” and even enlisted unsuspecting couriers, potentially rideshare drivers, to aid in the scam.

The scheme unraveled when an alert CVS employee in Huntington Beach, CA, over 400 miles away, noticed something was off and refused to release a package containing $8,500 in cash. However, by that time, the victim, Chester Frilich, had already lost nearly $200,000.

Frilich first encountered the scammers in early March, when someone claiming to be from Xfinity told him his personal information had been used for illicit purposes. This led to a series of calls from an individual posing as an FTC agent, who convinced Frilich to move his funds to a “secure” account, leading to repeated cash withdrawals over several days.

Despite intervention from Concord and Huntington Beach police, Frilich was unable to recover the $8,500 in the final package, which is now missing. Additionally, he fears the IRS may place a lien on his home due to the taxes owed on cashed-out CDs and an IRA.

Reflecting on his experience, Frilich believes his greatest mistake was panicking, which clouded his judgment. Concord PD emphasizes that no legitimate law enforcement agency will ever discourage someone from verifying their identity. They continue to educate the public to prevent others from falling victim to similar scams.