In a swift crackdown on cyber scams, San Mateo County sheriff's deputies put the cuffs on a fraud suspect implicated in what appears to be a sprawling international racket, officials said Thursday. On the heels of a cunning Ransomware ploy, the suspect allegedly conned a 62-year-old county resident out of a hefty cash sum by pretending to offer a refund from a renowned anti-virus company.

The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Hongliang He of Southern California, made initial contact through an email that led to phone calls and eventually culminated in He gaining remote access to the victim's computer. In a classic bait-and-switch, He misled the victim into believing he had to fork over cash to fix an erroneous refund sum. Showing audacity, the suspect then showed up at the unsuspecting victim's home to collect the money, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim, who remains unnamed, quickly realized they had been bamboozled and rang up the sheriff's office the next day. Deputies jumped into action, investigating leads that brought them to He, who was later booked at the Maguire Correctional Facility on charges of obtaining money under pretenses and conspiracy to commit a crime, as per authorities.

Detectives digging into the case unearth a possibility of a larger conspiracy, with indications that other scammers might be lurking in the shadows and additional victims who are yet to step forward. Those privy to relevant information are urged to contact Detective Matthew West at [email protected] or call 650-363-4050. For those preferring to remain a nameless informant, tips can be dropped off via the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-547-2700, bolstering the investigation.