Charlestown police have arrested a man in southern Indiana in connection with a scam that targeted older American victims across several states.
Authorities say an older Charlestown resident was tricked into withdrawing $27,000 from his retirement accounts and handing the cash over to a man who showed up at his front door on May 5.
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The man, identified as 36-year-old Jia Hua Liu, allegedly took the money and left. Police launched an investigation and linked Liu to additional scams in Ohio, New Mexico and Tennessee. Investigators estimate the total losses from these incidents top $309,000, according to WDRB.
Liu, a Canadian citizen who entered the U.S. in April, also came close to defrauding three more older victims in Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. Those attempts were stopped by concerned family members, potentially preventing another $70,000 in losses.
He was arrested on July 2 at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport while trying to leave the country. Police say they recovered a substantial amount of cash during a search of his vehicle and luggage.
Liu faces charges of theft, fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. The investigation is ongoing. His arrest highlights just how scammers targeting older adults use increasingly sophisticated tactics. As these schemes become more common, understanding how they work can hlp protect you or someone you love from becoming the next victim.
How the scams work
In 2023, people over the age of 60 lost more than $3.4 billion to fraud. Older adults are often targeted in financial scams for several reasons. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), seniors are more likely to have retirement savings or home equity, may live alone and tend to be more trusting of strangers. Cognitive decline can also make it harder to detect a scam.
Some of the most common scams targeting seniors include:
- Government impersonation scams: Scammers pose as officials from the IRS or Social Security Administration, claiming to protect your money from fraud.
- Sweepstakes and lottery scams: Victims are told they’ve won a prize but must pay a fee to collect it.
- Tech support scams: Scammers pretend to be IT workers and gain remote access to computers, then install malware or demand payment for fake repairs.
- Romance scams: Fraudsters build online relationships to gain trust and then ask for money.
- Family or grandparent scams: Scammers claim to be a grandchild in trouble and ask for emergency money, often saying they’re in jail or stranded abroad.
Scammers often spend weeks or months building trust. Authorities urge seniors and their families to stay alert and avoid giving away large amounts of money.
“We all need to work together to make sure our seniors, their caregivers, families, and friends know the signs to look for that a criminal is after your money,” said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Assistant Director Michael Nordwall.
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How to protect those you love from similar scams
Scammers count on fear and urgency. Whether they claim your bank account has been hacked or pretend to be a loved one, the goal is always to get money fast before you’ve had time to think it through.
Red flags to watch out for include:
- Requests to withdraw large sums of cash or gift cards
- A stranger or “courier” coming to your home to collect money
- Pressure to act quickly and keep the situation secret
- Caller ID showing a government agency or bank
- Anyone telling you not to talk to family or friends
"Anytime anyone calls you or asks you to call them on the phone and they want you to withdraw large sums of money, that’s probably not legitimate," said Charlestown Police Detective Jason Broady. "There is probably some sort of scam going on."
If you’re a caregiver for an older loved one, here’s how you can help:
- Talk openly about common scams and how they work
- Encourage them to call you before making unusual financial decisions
- Set up transaction alerts on their bank accounts
- Help screen their calls or block unknown numbers.
- Remind them that no government agency accepts cash, gift cards or cryptocurrency
Charlestown Police believe there may be more victims who haven’t yet come forward.
If you live in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama or Tennessee and suspect a similar scam has targeted you or a loved one, contact local law enforcement or call the Charlestown Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 812-256-2473.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.