Community
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Thousand-Dollar Scam
| Nature of Incident: | Thousand-Dollar Scam |
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| Report Number: | 26-62225 | ||||
| Location: | 700 Block Flynn Road, Camarillo 3000 Muscatel Avenue, Rosemead |
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| Date & Time: | 06/29/2026 | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Camarillo Investigations Bureau Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit Camarillo Directed Enforcement Unit Camarillo Patrol Services |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) Binchao Cen (V) Adult Male |
Rosemead Camarillo |
44 70 |
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| Narrative: | |||||
| In May 2026, patrol deputies from the Camarillo Police Station responded to a theft report in Camarillo. The investigation revealed that a 70-year-old man had been scammed out of $84,000. The victim received a phone call from an unknown individual claiming to work for “McAfee Security.” The caller alleged that the victim’s bank account information may have been compromised and provided enough specific details including accurate bank information to appear legitimate. Over the following days, the suspect convinced the victim to withdraw $84,000 in cash and meet with a supposed “McAfee Security” employee. The victim was also instructed to provide a verbal security code before handing over the money. The victim later met with the suspect, identified as (S) Binchao Cen, and turned over the funds. Several days afterward, the victim realized he had been scammed and reported the incident to the Camarillo Police Department. On June 30, 2026, detectives from the Camarillo Police Department contacted Cen while he was driving to meet with what they believed was another potential victim. Detectives intervened and took him into custody. Cen was found in possession of a large amount of cash and a modified air-soft handgun. Detectives later executed a search warrant at a residence in the 3000 block of Muscatel Avenue in Rosemead. Cen was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility on charges of: PC 532-Theft by False Pretenses, PC 487-Grand Theft, and PC 368(d)(1)-Theft from an Elder Adult. Bail was set at $500,000. Advances in technology have led to a sharp rise in sophisticated financial scams across Ventura County and the nation. These scams often involve emails, text messages, or phone calls that appear to come from trusted sources such as the IRS, law enforcement agencies, banks, or well-known companies. Scammers frequently pressure victims to send money, either in cash or via wire transfer, or claim that a loved one has been arrested or injured and urgently needs financial help. If you suspect a scam, do not send money or provide personal information. Instead, contact the Camarillo Police Station at (805) 388-5100, file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov, or visit the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov. |
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| Prepared by: | Detective Sergeant Ernan Jauregui | ||||
| News Release Date: | 07/01/2026 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Jordan Rojales 805-947-8326 Detective Jared Council 805-947-8705 |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain John Hajducko YES NO |
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Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511
