An Irvine man in his 80s was scammed out of $25,000 after callers spoofed the Irvine Police Department’s phone number and threatened him with arrest if he did not pay up, according to local investigators. Under pressure, the man stuffed the cash into a shoebox and handed it to a courier in a Kohl’s parking lot, police say.
What investigators say happened
According to NBC Los Angeles, the con started with a text about a suspicious Apple Pay charge that prompted the victim to call a number provided in the message. On the line, he was told his identity had allegedly been used to buy illegal drugs and firearms and was transferred to someone claiming to be with the ATF. Irvine Police Public Information Officer Ziggy Azarcon told the outlet that the scammer then spoofed the department’s main line and pretended to be the police chief to push the victim into cooperating.
How the con played out
As reported by ABC7, the victim’s family says the fraudsters even pulled up a real Irvine officer’s LinkedIn profile to make the ruse look legitimate. While keeping the man on the phone for hours, the scammers directed him to withdraw $25,000, wrap the cash in duct tape, place it in a shoebox and deliver it to a waiting courier in a shopping center parking lot. Detectives are now going through surveillance video and communications as they work to identify the driver who picked up the box.
Police guidance for residents
The Irvine Police Department states on its website that officers will not call to collect fines or demand payment and urges residents to hang up and verify any suspicious calls from supposed law enforcement, according to the Irvine Police Department. City officials recommend asking any caller for a name and badge number, then independently calling the agency’s official phone line to confirm. The main number for Irvine Police is 949-724-7000.
Why seniors are targeted
Older adults remain a prime target for this kind of high-pressure scare tactic. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, people over 60 reported more than $3.4 billion in losses in 2023. That national trend tracks with what local investigators say they are seeing on the ground: increasingly elaborate scams aimed at seniors, and growing urgency for families to talk with older relatives about common red flags.
Practical steps families can take
Investigators urge relatives to keep an eye on sudden or unusual banking activity, to set up shared account alerts and to regularly remind older family members never to hand over money or grant remote access to their computer to someone who calls out of the blue, NBC Los Angeles reports. If a call feels official or intimidating, authorities say to hang up, look up the agency’s number on its website and call back using that listing, then notify your bank and local police. Families are also encouraged to consider account alerts or withdrawal limits as an extra layer of protection.
The victim’s son told ABC7 he did not find out about the scam until after the money was gone. Police say no arrests have been made as they continue to review video and phone records, and officials warn that recovering the $25,000 is unlikely. Anyone who believes they may have been targeted is urged to contact local law enforcement and file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
