One person has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into an email scam and fraud scheme targeting the elderly. On March 6th, 2025, officers with the New Braunfels Police Department were dispatched to the 1100 block of Lime Gruene Road where an elderly homeowner reported that he had been the target of a scam. The resident had received an email about fraudulent activity on a crypto currency account. The email contained instructions on how to reverse the fraudulent activity which included allowing a third party to access the resident’s computer remotely. The scam continued by requiring the resident to withdraw a large sum of cash and arrangements were made for a courier to pick up the cash. Fortunately, in this case, the resident realized a scam was in the works before he handed over any money, and he called police instead.
On March 7th, 2025, NBPD officers were waiting for the courier to arrive at the resident’s home to pick up the cash, and the suspect was taken into custody without incident. 25-year old Chaopeng Huang of San Lorenzo, California, was transported to the Comal County Jail and charged with:
- Exploitation of the Elderly
- Financial Abuse of the Elderly (>=$2500<$30,000)
- Possession of a Controlled Substance (Penalty Group 1/1-B<1G)
Bond was set at a combined $25,000, which was posted on March 9th and Huang was released from custody. The investigation into this scam and those responsible continues by the New Braunfels Police Department Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Additional arrests and charges may be pending.
It’s important to note that scammers often target the elderly, but not exclusively. In the interest of keeping the public informed, NBPD wanted to make sure the community was aware of this scam before anyone else received similar emails. If you do, NBPD advises that you DO NOT reveal any personal information, DO NOT withdraw money from a bank or purchase gift cards, and call the non-emergency number at 830-221-4100 to report the incident. It should also be noted that there are a wide variety of email and phone scams. Criminals can also pose as law enforcement, IRS agents, Publisher’s Clearinghouse employees, student loan agents, or credit card debt agents. Please remember:
- If you didn’t initiate the phone call, be VERY wary.
- BE VERY CAREFUL about giving out personal information by phone or email.
- Legitimate businesses and government organizations will NEVER ask you to make a payment in cash or by purchasing gift cards or temporary credit cards.
- BE WARY about letting anyone into your home or onto your property without proper identification, marked vehicles, etc., especially when that person shows up unannounced or unsolicited.
There are a number of other tips for avoiding becoming a victim of scam artists. To learn more about the types of fraud that you could face, check out the FBI’s Common Fraud Schemes website: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams.