A California man has been arrested after he scammed a 79-year-old woman out of $9,600, in a fraudulent scheme involving a fake bail bondsman. The suspect, 24-year-old Manuel Rivera Cueto from Los Angeles, was arrested after trying to extort even more money from the elderly woman. The crime unfolded in Tulare, California, and police were able to apprehend the man after a detailed investigation.
On January 15, 2025, the elderly woman received a phone call from an individual who claimed to be a bail bondsman. The caller told her that her grandson had been arrested and needed $9,600 for his release. The scammer arranged for a courier to pick up the money from her residence.
Though the elderly woman was initially caught off guard, she grew suspicious and reached out to her family members. After confirming that her grandson had not been arrested, she realized she had fallen victim to a scam. The woman immediately reported the incident to the Tulare Police Department.
The very next day, the scammer called the victim again, this time demanding an additional $22,000. However, after some negotiation, the amount was lowered to $5,000. The victim, still shaken from the previous interaction, agreed to meet the man and give him the money. Meanwhile, the Tulare Police Department’s Crime Specific Unit had already started monitoring the victim’s residence after she reported the initial scam.
As the suspect arrived to collect the money, officers followed him out of the city. The suspect was tracked down and stopped near Tipton, California. Authorities later discovered that the Uber driver, who was unknowingly involved in the delivery of the money, had no knowledge of the scam and cooperated with the investigation. The Uber driver had simply been following the instructions to transport the suspect to the location where he was to collect the money.
The investigation led police to a restaurant in Castaic, California, where Rivera Cueto attempted to retrieve the money from the victim. Police arrested him without incident, and during a search of his vehicle, they discovered evidence related to the original $9,600 transaction. Rivera Cueto admitted to his involvement in the scam.
He explained that the masterminds behind the scam were located in the Dominican Republic, and he had acted as a “mule” for them multiple times in the past. In total, he admitted to being used in this manner about 10 times.
Further investigation revealed that Rivera Cueto had an outstanding warrant for his arrest from Las Vegas, Nevada. He was wanted for 14 counts of theft by false pretenses, which were also tied to similar fraudulent activities. Authorities now believe that Rivera Cueto was part of a much larger network of criminals who targeted vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly, using various deceptive tactics.
In the aftermath of Rivera Cueto’s arrest, the Tulare Police Department issued a reminder to residents, particularly the elderly, to be vigilant about potential scams. They advised people to always verify the information they receive over the phone and to contact family members or the police if they are ever in doubt. The department also commended the elderly woman for her quick thinking, as her decision to reach out to family members helped prevent further financial loss.
This arrest marks a significant success for the Tulare Police Department, which continues to investigate the larger network involved in the scam. Rivera Cueto’s apprehension serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from fraud, and law enforcement officials have vowed to continue their efforts to track down others involved in similar schemes.
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