Three Chinese nationals are facing federal charges in an alleged fraud operation that used fake calls, emails, and pop-up warnings to pressure victims—most of them older adults—into mailing money to P.O. boxes around Orlando. Federal officials say 28 victims have been identified so far, turning a familiar scam script into a significant Central Florida investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced Tuesday that Yongbo Li, 36, Huashan Lu, 62, and Yuxiang Zhao, 60, were arrested under a criminal complaint charging conspiracy to commit mail fraud. If convicted, each defendant could face up to 30 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Today, Chief Eric Smith joined federal law enforcement partners as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the arrests of three Chinese nationals accused of participating in an organized fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across the… pic.twitter.com/SVv9D1dCZu
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) August 4, 2026
Orlando Detectives Helped Trace The Alleged Operation
Chief Eric Smith joined federal law enforcement partners for the announcement, while Orlando police detectives played a key role in identifying people allegedly involved in the scheme, Orlando police said. The department’s complex-financial-crimes investigators were part of a case that stretched beyond a single victim or one suspicious phone call.
According to the federal complaint, the defendants and others allegedly told victims that their personal information or financial accounts had been compromised and that immediate action was needed. Victims were then directed to send cashier’s checks, money orders, or cash to P.O. boxes in and around Orlando, as detailed by the federal complaint.
The arrests were investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Orlando Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Flanigan is prosecuting the case.
Elder Fraud Losses Keep Climbing Nationwide
The Orlando case arrives as reported losses among older Americans continue to surge. The FBI said complaints from people age 60 and older exceeded 201,000 in 2025, with reported losses topping $7.7 billion—up 37% in complaints and 59% in losses from the prior year, according to the agency’s elder-fraud warning.
Central Florida has seen other recent cases involving alleged schemes aimed at older residents. In February, Hoodline reported that two men were taken into custody after deputies said a Deltona senior was bilked out of thousands of dollars.
Anyone who believes they may have been defrauded should contact their bank immediately and report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the agency advises. The latest federal case remains an allegation, and all three defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
