Suspect arrested in $35,000 fraud scheme targeting elderly Menlo Park resident

The Menlo Park Police Department has arrested a suspect in a sophisticated fraud scheme that defrauded a 77-year-old Menlo Park resident of $35,000. The scam, reported on February 13, 2025, began with a deceptive text message falsely claiming affiliation with a major online retailer and a federal agency, threatening the victim with imprisonment unless funds were provided to a courier.

On February 11 and 12, 2025, the victim was coerced into withdrawing $35,000 in cash from multiple bank branches. On February 12, the suspect collected a box containing the cash from the victim’s residence. Following a thorough investigation, police identified the suspect as Arya Mehta, a 22-year-old from San Jose, CA. On April 16, 2025, Mehta was arrested at his residence and booked into San Mateo County Jail.

Mehta faces charges of Theft by False Pretenses (532(a) PC), Theft Using an Access Card (484g(a) PC), and Elder Abuse (368 PC). The investigation continues to uncover additional individuals involved in this scam, which appears to have international connections.

Residents with information about this case or similar scams are encouraged to contact the Menlo Park Police Department at 650-330-6300. To avoid scams, never click unknown links, share personal details, or send money to unverified sources. To learn more about fraud prevention and common scams, visit the official website of the State of California Department of Justice.