Redmond police are sounding the alarm over a slick phone-and-video scam zeroing in on Chinese-speaking residents, after one victim lost $80,000 and another nearly sent $100,000 before backing out at the last minute. The con typically starts with what sounds like a routine insurance call, then escalates into a high-pressure video chat where someone posing as a police officer demands cash to “clear” a fake warrant. Two local cases are now under investigation, and the department is urging residents to treat unsolicited calls and sudden payment demands with extreme caution.
In a detailed post on X, the Redmond Police Department laid out how the scam usually unfolds. Callers first claim to represent UnitedHealthcare, then route the target to a second person who often speaks Chinese and appears on Zoom. According to the department, the fraudsters ask for photos of identification, insist there is an outstanding warrant, and instruct victims to wire money to a bank account in China. The post urges anyone who has already sent money to immediately contact their bank to request a wire recall and to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.
How the scam works
According to the department’s warning, the pitch usually begins with a call about an alleged insurance problem. The victim is then “transferred” to someone on Zoom who impersonates a police officer, often speaks Chinese, flashes fake paperwork on camera and insists the target must act immediately. The scammers demand photos of personal identification, then claim the only way to avoid arrest is to wire money overseas, a step that makes getting funds back extremely difficult. Police stress that legitimate law enforcement and reputable businesses do not demand immediate wire transfers to avoid arrest and urge people never to share sensitive documents or information in response to surprise calls or video links, according to the Redmond Police Department.
This matches a broader federal pattern
Federal authorities have repeatedly documented similar schemes aimed at Chinese communities, where scammers impersonate embassies, insurers or law enforcement, then ramp up the pressure until victims send money overseas. The FBI’s Washington field office has noted that these operations often involve fake warrants, multiple handoffs between different callers and platforms, and a final push for a wire transfer that is hard to reverse. The Department of Justice has also pursued transnational “scam centers” accused of running large-scale impersonation and wire-fraud rackets. See guidance from the Department of Justice for more context.
If you’re targeted: steps to take
Police and federal agencies say your first move should be simple: hang up and disengage. Do not send money, do not share additional personal or financial details and do not stay on a call where someone claims you will be arrested if you do not pay immediately. Contact your bank or wire-service provider right away to request a recall or stop payment, because every minute counts, and then file reports with federal agencies so investigators can link related complaints.
The Federal Trade Commission has laid out recovery steps for people who already paid a scammer, and Redmond’s alert directs victims to submit a report to IC3 and to notify state authorities. See the Federal Trade Commission and Washington’s wire-transfer guidance from the Washington State Attorney General for step-by-step advice.
Local reporting and resources
Anyone who thinks they may have been targeted is urged to contact the Redmond Police Department, calling 911 in an emergency or the non‑emergency line at 425‑556‑2500 to make a report and preserve evidence. Hold on to bank receipts, screenshots of messages, Zoom details and caller ID information to help both investigators and your bank with any fraud or recall efforts. The department’s post on X and the federal links above include language options and filing instructions for those who need them, and additional city updates are available at Redmond.gov.
