Full Notification

The Simi Valley Police Department, in coordination with the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force (VCORTTF), has successfully disrupted a large-scale financial scam operation. A crucial arrest was made on March 19, 2025, culminating an intensive investigation initiated by the Simi Valley Police.

The investigation was sparked by a report of an ongoing scam targeting an elderly resident who had been manipulated into withdrawing and handing over approximately $200,000 under the pretense of bank account security measures. The scam involved deceiving the victim to transfer funds to supposed bank representatives.

Detective efforts led to a sting operation that resulted in the capture of Ruishan Liu (21 years old/West Covina), who was apprehended while attempting to collect a decoy package, believed to contain a substantial cash withdrawal. Liu is currently detained at Ventura Main Jail, facing charges related to her involvement in the scam.

This case underscores the alarming trend of financial scams, which increasingly involve computer virus scares, bitcoin, and gift card frauds, in addition to the packaging and delivery of money to couriers under false pretenses. Individuals are often deceived into believing they are rectifying security issues within their bank accounts or computers, leading to substantial financial losses. The Simi Valley Police Department encourages the public to exercise caution and skepticism with unsolicited requests involving financial transactions, particularly those requesting payments via unconventional methods like cryptocurrency or gift cards.