Bellevue couple loses $1,000,000 in deportation scam

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Bellevue police are investigating a scam involving an Bellevue couple who lost $1,000,000.

Investigators said the 91 and 78-year-old received a call claiming the couple sent fake vaccines overseas and that they were going to be sued.

The couple told the caller that they weren’t the senders and the alleged scammer said to file a police report to prove they were innocent.

According to police, the couple then got a call from someone claiming to be a police officer in China who threatened to arrest and deport them to China.

The couple wired the money, but the scammers said that it wasn’t enough and threatened them with deportation, so they wired more money.

Investigators said the scammers were in Singapore and spoke Mandarin, which was the couple’s native language.

“This elaborate fraud preys on the victim’s vulnerabilities to devastating effect,” said Major Travess Forbush. “We cannot emphasize enough that the police will never contact you and ask for money instead of being arrested or deportation.”

This is the second fraud case.

According to police, the other case involved a person from Redmond who lost $750,000. The person warned the couple, who then reported it to police.

Bellevue police gave this warning:

“Tell friends, loved ones, and neighbors to always hang up on callers claiming to be government officials asking for money. Also, delete all similar emails or emails saying you’ll receive money by sending your personal information. If you think there’s a chance something might be legitimate, call your local authorities or agency and verify it before ever sending any money or gift cards.”

Cox Media Group