In Covina, a retired couple says scammers posing as federal agents drained nearly $845,000 from their retirement savings and pushed them into a home-equity loan that now threatens the house they have owned for 37 years. Peter and Diane Hata say it all started with a phone call in February 2025 and spiraled into months of video conferences, wire transfers and strict instructions to keep quiet. The result, they told reporters, is crushing debt and a level of emotional stress they never expected to face in retirement.
According to the Hatas, the ordeal began with what looked like a routine call from the U.S. Postal Service that quickly escalated. They say they were then routed into video calls with people claiming to be FBI agents who flashed badges on screen and displayed what turned out to be forged documents. "We jumped at it because we were scared out of our minds," Peter said, while Diane described feeling "stuck" as the scheme dragged on. As reported by ABC7 Los Angeles, the couple eventually contacted the real FBI and learned the names used by the callers did not exist in the agency’s system. They later reported the scam to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
How the scam worked
Details shared on the family’s fundraiser page say the callers convinced the Hatas to "digitize" their money so agents could supposedly trace tainted funds. That instruction led the couple to empty retirement accounts, convert much of the cash into cryptocurrency and take out an equity loan on their home. Organizers say the con relied on caller-ID spoofing, carefully staged video conferences and repeated threats of jail time if the couple told anyone what was happening. The relief effort, a GoFundMe launched in May, has raised roughly $110,546 toward a $550,000 goal.
Bigger picture
The Hatas’ story mirrors a broader surge in government-impersonation schemes nationwide. The FBI’s latest numbers, via the FBI, show roughly 32,000 complaints in that category and about $798 million in reported losses. Cryptocurrency transfers continue to dominate in the biggest cases, and consumer-finance outlets have documented similar FBI-imposter scams that lean on fear and secrecy to pry loose victims’ life savings. Recent national coverage outlines how these calls often start with small "verification" payments, then escalate until entire nest eggs are gone; Money is one outlet that has tracked the pattern.
How to protect yourself
Law enforcement and consumer advocates say the hallmarks of the Hatas’ case are textbook: an unexpected call, dire warnings, a demand for secrecy and pressure to move money into cryptocurrency. "The FBI will never call or email private citizens to request they move money via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or prepaid cards," the agency notes. Officials urge anyone who receives a similar contact to hang up, independently look up a verified phone number and call the agency or business directly, and also alert local police. Victims are advised to notify their banks and any crypto platforms involved and to file a report with the FBI’s IC3 portal, in line with public guidance from the FBI.
Aftermath in Covina
Friends and relatives set up the GoFundMe campaign to help the Hatas cover immediate bills and hold on to their home. According to organizers, bankruptcy attorneys have told the couple they likely do not qualify for bankruptcy protection because of the equity in the house. The fundraiser is described as a stopgap to keep them afloat while law enforcement investigates the fraud, and so far it has brought in just over $110,546. Local coverage notes that the Hatas reported the scam to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and there have been no public reports of arrests tied to the case. The fundraiser remains active on GoFundMe, and the story first surfaced in local TV coverage from ABC7 Los Angeles.
