Pomona Police Probe $35K Swindle Case Involving Woman’s Life Savings and Jewelry

Scam Victim Shares Her Experience to Encourage Caution

A woman from Pomona has reported being deceived out of thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry in a scam orchestrated by two women who approached her under the guise of seeking help to claim a large cash prize.

Gut Instincts and Regrets

The victim’s daughter, Paula Perez, expressed feelings of guilt for not trusting her instincts that could have prevented her mother from falling into the trap.

“Trust your gut feeling,” advised Perez. “I had a sense that something was off, and reflecting now, I wish I had acted on it.”

The Encounter

The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. when the 62-year-old woman was returning from the dentist near San Bernardino Avenue and Indian Hill Boulevard in Pomona. She was approached by two women: one inquiring about an immigration office, and the other claiming she needed help to claim a significant cash prize she had supposedly won, offering a share of the winnings in return for assistance.

Deceptive Promises

Once the victim entered a silver Toyota Prius with one of the women, they revealed an unsettling twist to their story.

“They claimed they needed someone with $60,000 because they had been robbed before when trying to collect money,” Perez explained.

Life Savings at Stake

The woman was told she could borrow some money, and she was then taken to her home to gather the remaining amount. Upon entering her house, Perez noted that her mother’s demeanor seemed off.

“I could see her eyes were red and her face was flushed from crying, yet she appeared happy, which was strange,” said Perez.

Unbeknownst to Perez, her mother had entered her bedroom to retrieve what she described as her entire life savings, which amounted to $29,000 in cash and jewelry.

A Sudden Panic

After briefly returning to the vehicle, her mother indicated she needed to search for a utility bill to confirm her identity before leaving once more.

Only five or six minutes later, Perez received a frantic call from her mother.

“She was hysterically crying and out of breath, saying they stole everything from her,” Perez recounted.

Seeking Justice and Spreading Awareness

The theft has been reported to the Pomona police, who have confirmed they are investigating the incident. Both Perez and her mother hope that by sharing their story, others will be more vigilant in similar situations.

“Don’t trust strangers who approach you, regardless of how friendly they may appear,” Perez cautioned. “The best course of action is to walk away.”