This week on Tuesday (24th), Chinese national Danxiu Wang, residing in Southern California, pleaded guilty in federal court to her involvement in a transnational fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly individuals, deceiving over 40 victims with a total amount exceeding $1.2 million.
According to the Southern District of California’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, the defendant, living in San Gabriel, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
The prosecution stated that this case originated from an investigation launched in May 2025, focusing on a call center scam that occurred in various locations in California and across the United States.
The indictment revealed that the fraud group used various tactics to deceive victims, including:
1. Technical support fraud: impersonating tech support personnel, falsely claiming that the victim’s computer or account had been compromised, and persuading them to pay false repair fees;
2. Refund scam: falsely promising victims refunds and tricking them into providing personal banking information or making fund transfers;
3. Bank impersonation scam: posing as financial institutions to create emergencies, tricking victims into providing sensitive information or funds.
Danxiu Wang admitted in her plea agreement that she personally met with victims to collect funds, taking a cut from the proceeds, and handing over the balance to other members of the criminal group. Wang’s sentencing is scheduled for June 15th.
Law enforcement agencies remind that if you or someone you know over the age of 60 has fallen victim to financial fraud, you can call the National Elder Fraud Hotline for assistance at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report to local law enforcement or submit a report through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center website at www.ic3.gov.
The FBI advises victims to provide the following information: the name of the fraudster or company, their contact information (including website, email, and phone number), as well as the bank account details and recipient information for any transfers made. ◇