A 78-year-old retired San Diego Police Department volunteer says con artists posing as federal agents talked him into pulling thousands of dollars out of his bank account and leaving the cash in a box outside his home. The man, identified only as Stephen, told reporters he genuinely believed he was helping an official investigation when an "undercover agent" quietly showed up at night to collect the box. The loss has now turned into a cautionary tale, prompting San Diego police to warn older residents across the county to be on high alert for similar scams.
How the con worked
According to NBC San Diego, it all started with an alarming email claiming Stephen's banking and personal information had been tied to illegal activity. That message was followed by phone calls from people who said they were federal agents and who sounded convincing enough that he believed them.
The callers instructed him to withdraw thousands of dollars, place the cash in what they described as a federal holding box and wait for an undercover officer to retrieve it. Stephen says someone did in fact come to his home, picked up the box and somehow managed to stay out of view of his Ring camera. Later, he found a letter at his door stating that his money was safely stored in a U.S. Treasury account, which he now knows was part of the ruse.
Police: Older residents are prime targets
Lieutenant Cesar Jimenez told NBC San Diego the scam is "really sad" and said fraudsters are deliberately going after older community members. According to Jimenez, the criminals count on victims feeling embarrassed and staying quiet, which makes it easier for the scams to keep spreading in the shadows.
He also warned about a related trick. In that version, targets are told to cut up their debit card, then hand over the chip to a courier who comes to the door. Once scammers have that chip, they can drain bank accounts with little delay. Authorities are urging anyone who is targeted or who has already lost money to contact police so investigators can document the cases and try to keep others from getting hit the same way.
Scams are on the rise
Data from the Federal Trade Commission show that in 2024, consumers reported more than $12.5 billion in fraud losses nationwide. Nearly $3 billion of that was tied to imposter scams, and roughly $789 million involved government‑impostor schemes.
Those national numbers line up with the kind of slow-burn, high-pressure tactics seen in Stephen's case and highlight how costly and adaptable these operations have become. Local officers say the combination of email, phone calls and a real person showing up at the door makes these scams feel official and especially dangerous for older adults who are trying to do the right thing.
What to do if you're targeted
The Federal Trade Commission and the AARP Fraud Watch Network offer some clear ground rules. If you get an unexpected call from someone who says they are from the government and demands money, hang up. Do not move money, withdraw cash or hand over cash to anyone who shows up claiming to be a government official.
Instead, verify any contact by using official phone numbers or websites you look up yourself, not ones provided in an email or text. If you or a loved one were targeted, contact your bank immediately to protect your accounts, then file a report with local police so investigators can document what happened. The FTC and elder fraud resources outline additional reporting and recovery steps. Before acting on any urgent request for money, authorities say it is smart to pause and talk it over with a trusted family member or caregiver.
