THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — A 44-year-old Rosemead man is facing multiple felony charges in Ventura County for his alleged role in an elaborate, tech-support elder fraud scheme that defrauded a Thousand Oaks senior citizen out of $14,000 in cash, county prosecutors announced.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko confirmed that criminal charges have been filed against Yongan Ma (DOB 10/18/81). Ma is charged with felony conspiracy to commit grand theft (Penal Code 182(a)(1)), felony conspiracy to commit theft from an elder or dependent adult (Penal Code 182(a)(1)), and felony grand theft from an elder or dependent adult (Penal Code 368(d)).
Additionally, prosecutors filed special aggravating allegations noting that the crime indicated high planning, sophistication, and professionalism under California Rules of Court 4.421(a)(8), and that the victim was particularly vulnerable under Rule 4.421(a)(3).
Elaborate Tech-Support Scam and Impersonation of Federal Agents
According to detailed investigative reports released by the District Attorney’s Office, the scam began on April 2, 2026, when a Ventura County senior citizen was deleting spam emails on her home computer in Thousand Oaks.
While clearing her inbox, the victim clicked on a pop-up link that locked her screen and displayed an urgent message instructing her not to shut off her computer and to call a telephone number immediately.
When the victim dialed the number, an unidentified individual claimed her computer had been compromised by malware. The caller then transferred her to a co-conspirator posing as an investigator with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The fake agent falsely informed the senior that she was a primary suspect in an international money laundering investigation. To establish her innocence, the scammer insisted she had to immediately withdraw large sums of cash from her bank accounts and provide financial receipts.
To heighten her fear, the caller warned that the U.S. Department of the Treasury was actively monitoring her home and would freeze all of her assets if she failed to comply or disclosed the conversation to anyone.
Password-Protected Cash Collection at Thousand Oaks Home
Driven by fear and kept on the telephone line continuously by the scammer, the victim drove to multiple local bank branches. During the drive, the caller escalated the coercion, falsely claiming that "two people were actively watching her home."
The victim ultimately withdrew $14,000 in cash and returned home as directed. The scammer instructed her to wrap the currency in a package and wait for a courier named "Lisa." The scammer emphasized that "Lisa" would state a specific, pre-arranged secret password, and instructed the victim to surrender the cash package only after verifying the phrase.
At approximately 3:00 p.m. on April 2, 2026, an unidentified woman arrived at the senior's front door, provided the agreed-upon password, collected the $14,000 cash, and fled the scene.
The following day, after realizing she had fallen victim to a sophisticated fraud scheme, the woman alerted a family member, who immediately contacted the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigation, Arrest, and Court Proceedings
Detectives with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office launched a multi-agency investigation and determined that Yongan Ma acted as the getaway driver for the courier. Investigators allege that Ma knowingly drove the female suspect to the victim’s Thousand Oaks home, facilitated the physical collection of the funds, and personally benefited from the proceeds of the illicit scheme.
Sheriff’s detectives tracked Ma down and executed an arrest warrant in Pasadena, California, on July 22, 2026.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Dominic Kardum of the District Attorney’s Office Fraud and Technology Crimes Unit.
Ma made his initial court appearance on July 24, 2026, in Ventura County Superior Court, where he entered a plea of not guilty to all felony charges. During the arraignment hearing, the presiding judge granted Ma release on his own recognizance (OR)—allowing him to leave custody without posting cash bail—despite strong objections raised by the prosecutor.
An Early Disposition Conference for Ma has been scheduled for August 4, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. in Department 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court.
District Attorney Issues Warning on Elder Fraud Scams
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office urges all community members—especially elderly residents and their family caregivers—to remain vigilant against coercive scam tactics. Law enforcement officials highlight several warning signs common to elder fraud operations:
- High Urgency: Scammers demand immediate action, claiming legal consequences will happen instantly.
- Strict Secrecy: Demands that victims keep transactions secret from family, bankers, or police.
- Fear and Intimidation: Threats of imminent arrest, asset seizure, or active physical surveillance.
- Unusual Payment Demands: Requests for physical cash pickups, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
- Forced Isolation: Strict instructions to remain on the phone continuously while visiting financial institutions.
District Attorney Investigator Eric Jensen encourages anyone who believes they or a family member may have fallen victim to a similar cash-pickup or tech-support scam to report the incident at (805) 662-1750.